Belay.—To make fast a rope around a cleat or pin.
To Bend.—To fasten; as to bend the sails, bend on the cable to the anchor, bend on the colors, &c.
Bight.—Any slack part of a rope between the ends.
Bilge.—The flat part of a yacht's bottom, where the water that she ships, or which leaks in, remains, and is called "bilge-water."
Binnacle.—A box, fitted with lights, which contains the steering-compass.
Berth.—An anchorage; a bunk or wooden shelf used for sleeping in.
Bitts.—Large, upright pieces of timber, with a cross-piece, to which hawsers or large ropes are belayed; also called "knight-heads."
Blocks.—Instruments, with sheaves or pulleys, used to increase the power of ropes.
Block and Block (also called commonly "chock-a-block").—When the two blocks of a tackle have been brought as near together as possible.
To Make a Board.—To tack.