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

Handsomely. Slowly, carefully. Used for an order, as, "Lower handsomely!"

Handspike. A long wooden bar, used for heaving at the windlass.

Handy Billy. A watch-tackle.

Hanks. Rings or hoops of wood, rope, or iron, round a stay, and seized to the luff of a fore-and-aft sail.

Harpings. The fore part of the wales, which encompass the bows of a vessel, and are fastened to the stem. (See Plate 3.)

Harpoon. A spear used for striking whales and other fish.

Hatch, or Hatchway. An opening in the deck to afford a passage up and down. The coverings over these openings are also called hatches.

Hatch-bar is an iron bar going across the hatches to keep them down.

Haul. Haul her wind, said of a vessel when she comes up close upon the wind.

Hawse. The situation of the cables before a vessel's stem, when moored. Also, the distance upon the water a little in advance of the stem; as, a vessel sails athwart the hawse, or anchors in the hawse of another.