WIDDERSHINS. A northern term signifying a motion contrary to the course of the sun. The Orkney fishermen consider themselves in imminent danger at sea, if, by accident, their vessel is turned against the sun.
WIDE-GAB. A name of the Lophius piscatorius, toad-fish, or fishing-frog.
WIDOWS' MEN. Imaginary sailors, formerly borne on the books as A.B.'s for wages in every ship in commission; they ceased with the consolidated pay at the close of the war. The institution was dated 24 Geo. II. to meet widows' pensions; the amount of pay and provisions for two men in each hundred was paid over by the paymaster-general of the navy to the widows' fund.
WILD. A ship's motion when she steers badly, or is badly steered. A wild roadstead implies one that is exposed to the wind and sea.
WILDFIRE. A pyrotechnical preparation burning with great fierceness, whether under water or not; it is analogous to the ancient Greek fire, and is composed mainly of sulphur, naphtha, and pitch.
WILD-WIND. An old term for whirlwind.
WILL, With a. With all zeal and energy.
WILL. A term on our northern shores for a sea-gull.
WILLICK. A northern name for the Fratercula arctica, or puffin.
WILLIE-POURIT. A northern name for the seal.