DOA. A Persian trading vessel.
DOASTA. An inferior spirit, often drugged or doctored for unwary sailors in the pestiferous dens of filthy Calcutta and other sea-ports in India.
DOB. The animal inhabiting the razor-shell (solen), used as a bait by fishermen.
DOBBER. The float of a fishing-line.
DOBBIN. A phrase on our southern coasts for sea-gravel mixed with sand.
DOCK. An artificial receptacle for shipping, in which they can discharge or take in cargo, and refit.—A dry dock is a broad and deep trench, formed on the side of a harbour, or on the banks of a river, and commodiously fitted either to build ships in or to receive them to be repaired or breamed. They have strong flood-gates, to prevent the flux of the tide from entering while the ship is under repair. There are likewise docks where a ship can only be cleaned during the recess of the tide, as she floats again on the return of the flood. Docks of the latter kind are not furnished with the usual flood-gates; but the term is also used for what is more appropriately called a [float] (which see). Also, in polar parlance, an opening cut out of an ice-floe, into which a ship is warped for security.
DOCK-DUES. The charges made upon shipping for the use of docks.
DOCKERS. Inhabitants of the town which sprang up between the docks and the town of Plymouth. Dock solicited and obtained the royal license, in 1823, to be called Devonport—a very inappropriate name, Plymouth being wholly within the county of Devon, while Hamoaze is equally in Devon and Cornwall.
DOCK HERSELF, To. When a ship is on the ooze, and swaddles a bed, she is said to dock herself.
DOCKING A SHIP. The act of drawing her into dock, and placing her properly on blocks, in order to give her the required repair, cleanse the bottom, and cover it anew. (See [Breaming].)