File (of musketeers). Latin filum, French file = a row. The word is used to signify any line of men standing directly behind one another. In ordinary two-deep formations a file consists of two men, one in the front rank and one in the rear rank.
Fishing (a mast). To strengthen or mend a mast by fastening strips of wood or iron along a weak or broken place.
Foot-rope. A rope stretched under a yard arm for sailors to stand on while reefing or furling sails.
Fore-cap. The cap is a stout block joining the bottom of one mast to the top of another; as where the foretopmast joins the foremast.
Foremast, foretopmast, etc. See Mast.
Fore-reach. To gain upon or pass; to beat in sailing.
Foreyard. The lowest yard on the foremast of a square-rigged vessel.
Grapnel. A boat's anchor having more than two flukes. Come to grapnel, cf. Come to anchor.
Half-galleys. A galley is a low, flat-built sea-going vessel with one deck, propelled by sails and oars. A half-galley is a similar vessel, but much shorter.
Half-pike. See Pike.