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LIEUTENANT
LIFTS
Topping-LIFT
LIGHT
LIGHTER
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LIFTS
LIFTS, (balanciers, Fr.) certain ropes, descending from the cap and mast-head, to the opposite extremities of the yard immediately under; where, passing through a block or pulley, they become double. They are used to keep the yard in equilibrio; or to pull one of its extremities higher than the other as occasion requires; but particularly to support the weight of it, when a number of seamen are employed thereon, to furl or reef the sail.The lifts of the top-sail-yards, called the top-sail-lifts, are also used as sheets to extend the bottom of the top-gallant-sail above.
The yards are said to be squared by the lifts, when they hang at right angles with the mast; that is to say, parallel to the horizon, when the vessel is upright upon the water.
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© Derived from Thomas Cadell's new corrected edition, London: 1780, page 176, 2003
Prepared by Paul Turnbull
http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0807.html