BERGE, a bold shore; also an artificial mound, or rampire, on the banks of a river, to prevent it from overflowing.

BERNE, a waft of the enfign: hence Mettre le pavillon en BERNE, to hoist the ensign with a waft.

BESSON, the arching or convexity of the beams and decks. See TONTURE.

BESTION, the head, or ornamental figure, on the prow of a ship.

BIDON, or CANETTE, a can.

BIGOTS, the ribs of a parrel. See RACAGE.

BIGUES, certain props, or shores, let into the ports of a ship, to bear her up when she rests upon the ground; also the masts of a sheer-hulk.

BILANDRE, a small merchant vessel with two masts, but differing from the British of that name.

BILLE, the beckets of the tacks and sheets.

BILLER, to fasten a rope to a boom, in order to ride or tow a boat.

BILLOTS, dead-wood, or short pieces of timber laid upon the keel, between the crotches, afore and abaft. See CONTRAQUILLE.

BISCUIT, biscuit, sea-bread.

BISE, vent de nord-nord-est, the north-north-east wind.

BISTORD, spun-yarn.

BISTORD de trois fils, three-yarn spun-yarn:

BITTES, the bits. Whence,

BITTER le cable, to bit the cable.

BITTON, a post fixed on a wharf, or pier, whereto to fasten a cable.

BITTONS, or TAQUETS, the top-sail-sheet bits.

BITTURE, a range of the cable drawn upon the deck, as ready for hitting.

BLEU, a temporary or acting officer, who performs the duty of another while the latter is sick or absent.

BLIN, a machine used to drive the wedges under a ship's bottom, when she is to be launched.

BLOCOUER, or BLOQUER. See PLOCQUER.

BOITE du gouvernail, the rudder-case, or the box placed above the rudder-head, upon the deck, through which the tiller passes.

Reference Works