Broach-to. To fall off so much, when going free, as to bring the wind round on the other quarter and take the sails aback.
Broadside. The whole side of a vessel.
Broken-backed. The state of a vessel when she is so loosened as to droop at each end.
Bucklers. Blocks of wood made to fit in the hawse-holes, or holes in the half-ports, when at sea. Those in the hawse-holes are sometimes called hawse-blocks.
Bulge. (See Bilge.)
Bulk. The whole cargo when stowed.
Stowed in bulk, is when goods are stowed loose, instead of being stowed in casks or bags. (See Break Bulk.)
Bulk head. Temporary partitions of boards to separate different parts of a vessel.
Bull. A sailor's term for a small keg, holding a gallon or two.
Bull's eye. (See page 53.) A small piece of stout wood with a hole in the centre for a stay or rope to reeve through, without any sheave, and with a groove round it for the strap, which is usually of iron. Also, a piece of thick glass inserted in the deck to let light below.