Ease off—To slacken a rope handsomely.
Eyelet holes—Small holes worked in sails for lacings or lashings to be rove through.
Eyes of the rigging—Collars spliced in the ends of shrouds to go over the masthead and also over the deadeyes.
Fair leaders—Holes in planks, etc., for ropes to be rove through so that they lead fairly.
Fair wind—A wind that permits a vessel to steer her course without tacking.
Fall—The hauling part of the rope of a tackle.
False keel—A timber bolted to the under side of the keel proper.
Fathom—A sea measure of six feet.
Fender—A species of buffer made of wood, rope or other material to hang over a vessel's side to prevent her from chafing against a dock, or another vessel.
Fid—An iron or wooden bar to keep bowsprits and topmasts in place; a conical wooden instrument used by riggers and sailmakers.