The Seaman's Friend / Containing a treatise on practical seamanship, with plates, a dictionary of sea terms, customs and usages of the merchant service

by Richard Henry Dana

Portoise. The gunwale. The yards are a-portoise when they rest on the gunwale.

Port-sills. (See Sills.)

Preventer. An additional rope or spar, used as a support.

Prick. A quantity of spunyarn or rope laid close up together.

Pricker. A small marlinspike, used in sail-making. It generally has a wooden handle.

Puddening. A quantity of yarns, matting or oakum, used to prevent chafing.

Pump-brake. The handle to the pump.

Purchase. A mechanical power which increases the force applied.

To purchase, is to raise by a purchase.

Quarter. The part of a vessel's side between the after part of the main chains and the stern. The quarter of a yard is between the slings and the yard-arm.