Forge. To forge ahead, to shoot ahead; as, in coming to anchor, after the sails are furled. (See Forereach.)
Formers. Pieces of wood used for shaping cartridges or wads.
Fother, or Fodder. To draw a sail, filled with oakum, under a vessel's bottom, in order to stop a leak.
Foul. The term for the opposite of clear.
Foul Anchor. When the cable has a turn round the anchor.
Foul Hawse. When the two cables are crossed or twisted, outside the stem.
Founder. A vessel founders, when she fills with water and sinks.
Fox. (See page 52.) Made by twisting together two or more rope-yarns.
A Spanish fox is made by untwisting a single yarn and laying it up the contrary way.
Frap. To pass ropes round a sail to keep it from blowing loose. Also, to draw ropes round a vessel which is weakened, to keep her together.