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

A good land-fall, is when a vessel makes the land as intended.

Land ho! The cry used when land is first seen.

Lanyards. Ropes rove through dead-eyes for setting up rigging. Also, a rope made fast to anything to secure it, or as a handle, is called a lanyard.

Larboard. The left side of a vessel, looking forward.

Larbowlines. The familiar term for the men in the larboard watch.

Large. A vessel is said to be going large, when she has the wind free.

Latchings. Loops on the head rope of a bonnet, by which it is laced to the foot of the sail.

Launch. A large boat. The Long-boat.

Launch ho! High enough!

Lay. To come or to go; as, Lay aloft! Lay forward! Lay aft! Also, the direction in which the strands of a rope are twisted; as, from left to right, or from right to left.