Rake. The inclination of a mast from the perpendicular.
Ramline. A line used in mast-making to get a straight middle line on a spar.
Range of Cable. A quantity of cable, more or less, placed in order for letting go the anchor or paying out.
Ratlines. (Pronounced rat-lins.) Lines running across the shrouds, horizontally, like the rounds of a ladder, and used to step upon in going aloft.
Rattle down Rigging. To put ratlines upon rigging. It is still called rattling down, though they are now rattled up; beginning at the lowest. (See page 23.)
Razee. A vessel of war which has had one deck cut down.
Reef. To reduce a sail by taking in upon its head, if a square sail, and its foot, if a fore-and-aft sail.
Reef-band. A band of stout canvass sewed on the sail across, with points in it, and earings at each end for reefing.
A reef is all of the sail that is comprehended between the head of the sail and the first reef-band, or between two reef-bands.
Reef-tackle. A tackle used to haul the middle of each leech up toward the yard, so that the sail may be easily reefed.