SPIKING A GUN. Driving a large nail or iron spike into the vent, which will render the cannon unserviceable until removed. (See [Cloy].)
SPILE. A stake or piece of wood formed like the frustum of a cone. A vent-peg in a cask of liquor. Small wooden pins which are driven into nail-holes to prevent leaking.
SPILINGS. In carpentry and ship-building, the dimensions taken from a straight line, a mould's edge, or rule-staff, to any given sny or curve of a plank's edge.
SPILL, To. Whether for safety or facility, it is advisable to shiver the wind out of a sail before furling or reefing it. This is done either by collecting the sail together, or by bracing it bye, so that the wind may strike its leech and shiver it. A very effeminate captain was accustomed to order, "Sheevar the meezen taus'le, and let the fore-topmast staysail lie dormant in the brails!"
SPILLING LINES. Ropes contrived to keep the sails from blowing away when they are clued up, being rove before the sails like the buntlines so as to disarm the gale, in contradistinction to clue-lines, &c., which cause the sails to belly full.
SPIN A TWIST OR A YARN, To. To tell a long story; much prized in a dreary watch, if not tedious.
SPINDLE. The vertical iron pin upon which the capstan moves. (See [Capstan].) Also, a piece of timber forming the diameter of a made mast. Also, the long-pin on which anything revolves. A windlass turns on horizontal spindles at each extremity.
SPINGARD. A kind of small cannon.
SPIRE-VAPOUR. A name suggested to Captain Parry for certain little vertical streams of vapour rising from the sea or open water in the Arctic regions, resembling the [barber] in North America (which see).
SPIRIT-ROOM. A place or compartment abaft the after-hold, to contain the ship's company's spirits.