DOG-VANE. A small vane made of thread, cork, and feathers, or buntin, fastened on the end of a half-pike, and placed on the weather gunwale, so as to be readily seen, and show the direction of the wind. The term is also familiarly applied to a cockade.
DOG-WATCH. The half-watches of two hours each, from 4 to 6, and from 6 to 8, in the evening. By this arrangement an uneven number of watches is made—seven instead of six in the twenty-four hours; otherwise there would be a succession of the same watches at the same hours throughout the voyage or cruise. Theodore Hook explained them as cur-tailed. (See [Watch].)
DOIT. A small Dutch coin, valued at about half a farthing; formerly current on our eastern shores.
DOLDRUMS. Those parts of the sea where calms are known to prevail. They exist between and on the polar sides of the trade-winds, but vary their position many degrees of latitude in the course of the year, depending upon the sun's declination. Also applied to a person in low spirits.
DOLE. A stated allowance; but applied to a scanty share or portion.
DOLE-FISH. The share of fish that was given to our northern fishermen as part payment for their labour.
DOLING. A fishing-boat with two masts, on the coasts of Sussex and Kent; each of the masts carries a sprit-sail.
DO-LITTLE, OR DO-LITTLE SWORD. The old term for a dirk.
DOLLAR. For this universally known coin, see [Piece of Eight].
DOLLOP. An old word for a lump, portion, or share. From the Gaelic diolab.