Vessels of war were almost all square-rigged, with three masts.
Sails, Studding. Light square sails, for moderate weather, extended beyond the other square sails, to increase the normal spread of canvas. Set only with a free wind, and never in battle.
Scantling. The size, and consequent weight and strength, of the timbers of a vessel's hull.
Schooner. See "Vessel."
Shake, to. So to place a sail that the wind blows along it, neither filling nor backing. The sail is thus neutralized without taking in.
Sharp-up. A yard is sharp-up, when turned by the braces as far as the rigging of the mast will allow. A close-hauled course requires the yards to be sharp-up, in order that the sails may be full.
Ship. See "Vessel."
Slip. See "Cable."
Sloop. See "Vessel."
Spars. A spar is a long piece of timber, cylindrical, tapering, in masts, towards one end, and in yards towards both. Spars serve for spreading the several sails of a vessel.