BAC, a large slat-bottomed ferry-boat, for horses, carriages, &c. See CHALAND.

BAC à naviger, a punt, or small boat, used by the shipwrights to carry pitch, tar, &c.

BACALAS, cleats of various kinds.

BACALIAU, a name given to dried salt cod-fish.

BACASAS, a sort of lighter, somewhat resembling an American periagua.

BACHE or BACHOT, a yawl or wherry.

BACLAGE, a tier of boats moored alongside of each other.

BACLER les ports, to fortify harbours by fixing chains or booms athwart their entrances; also to bar-in the gun-ports of a ship.

BAGUE, a small grommet, or wreath fixed in the eye-let hole in a sail.

BAIE. See BAYE.

BAILLE, an half-tub used to contain shot, grenades, matches, &c. also to hold water for cooling the guns in time of action, or to freshen the salt provifions.

BAJOU, or BAJON, a sort of tiller.

BAISSER, to fall down with the tide; to drive or be carried along, according to the course of the stream.

BAISSER le pavillon. See AMENER.

BAISSER les voiles, to lower the sails.

BALAI du ciel, the sweeper of the sky; a name given by tailors to the north-west winds of America, which always produce clear weather.

BALANCER, to balance, that is, to contract, retrench, or fold up part of a sail at one corner. It is peculiar to the mizen, and to main-sails extended on a boom.

Sec FANON.

BALANCIER de lampe, the rings by which the lamp is slung in the binacle.

Reference Works