VEER AWAY THE CABLE, To. To slack and let it run out.
VEERING CABLE, The. That cable which is veered out in unmooring, and not unspliced or unshackled in clearing hawse.
VEGA. α Lyræ. The bright lucida of the old northern constellation Lyra.
VEIN. The clear water between the openings of floes of ice. The same as ice-lane. Also, a very limited current of wind—a cat's-paw.
VELOCITY. In naval architecture, designing for velocity is giving that form to a ship's body by which she will pass through the water in the quickest space of time.
VELOCITY OF TIDE OR CURRENT, depends on several circumstances. First, the tide varies with the state of the moon, running strongest at the springs, and the force of the ebb is much increased by rains, land freshes, &c. The currents also vary, especially when wind and tide combine to accelerate their action.
VENDAVAL [Sp. south wind, tiempo di vendavales]. A stormy time on the coast of Mexico, in the autumn, with violent thunder, lightning, and rain.
VENDUE MASTER. A commercial and marine auctioneer.
VENE-SEANDES. The old commercial term for Venetian sequins.
VENT. In artillery, the small aperture near the breech by which the fire of the priming is communicated to the charge.