BLACKWALL-HITCH. A sort of tackle-hook guy, made by putting the bight of a rope over the back of the hook, and there jamming it by the standing part. A mode of hooking on the bare end of a rope where no length remains to make a cat's-paw.
BLACK WHALE. The name by which the right whale of the south seas (Balæna australis) is often known to whalemen.
BLAD. A term on our northern coasts for a squall with rain.
BLADDER-FISH. A term for the tetraodon. (See [Balloon-fish].)
BLADE OF AN ANCHOR. That part of the arm prepared to receive the palm.
BLADE OR WASH OF AN OAR. Is the flat part of it which is plunged into the water in rowing. The force and effect in a great measure depends on the length of this part, when adequate force is applied. When long oars are used, the boat is generally single-banked, so that the fulcrum is removed further from the rower. Also, the motive part of the screw-propeller.
BLAE, or Blea. The alburnum or sap-wood of timber.
BLAKE. Yellow. North of England.
BLANK. Level line mark for cannon, as point-blank, equal to 800 yards. It was also the term for the white mark in the centre of a butt, at which the arrow was aimed.
BLANKET. The coat of fat or blubber under the skin of a whale.