BREAKING LIBERTY. Not returning at the appointed time.
BREAKING OF A GALE. Indications of a return of fine weather; short gusts at intervals; moaning or whistling of the wind through the rigging.
BREAKING-PLATE DISTANCE. The point within which iron-plated ships, under concentrated fire, may be damaged.
BREAKING THE EY. See [Eyght].
BREAKING-UP OF THE MONSOON. A nautical term for the violent storms that attend the shifting of periodical winds.
BREAK-OFF. (See [Broken-off]). "She breaks off from her course," applied only when the wind will not allow of keeping the course; applies only to "close-hauled" or "on a wind."—Break-off! an order to quit one department of duty, to clap on to another.
BREAK-SHEER, To. When a ship at anchor is laid in a proper position to keep clear of her anchor, but is forced by the wind or current out of that position, she is said to break her sheer. Also, for a vessel to break her sheer, or her back, means destroying the gradual sweep lengthways.
BREAK-UP, To. To take a ship to pieces when she becomes old and unserviceable.
BREAK-WATER. Any erection or object so placed as to prevent the sea from rolling inwards. Where there is no mole or jetty the hull of an old ship may be sunk at the entrance of a small harbour, to break off or diminish the force of the waves as they advance towards the vessels moored within. Every bar to a river or harbour, intended to secure smooth water within, acts as a break-water.
BREAM. A common fresh as well as salt water fish (Abramis brama), little esteemed as food.