DOWSING CHOCK. A breast-hook or piece fayed athwart the apron and lapped on the knight-heads, or inside stuff, above the upper deck; otherwise termed hawse-hook.
DOYLT. Lazy or stupid.
DO YOU HEAR THERE? An inquiry following an order, but very often needlessly.
DRABLER. A piece of canvas laced on the bonnet of a sail to give it more drop, or as Captain Boteler says—"As the bonnet is to the course, so in all respects is the drabler to the bonnet." It is only used when both course and bonnet are not deep enough to clothe the mast.
DRACHMA. A Greek coin, value sevenpence three farthings sterling; 14 cents. American or Spanish real.
DRAFT, or Draught. A small allowance for waste on goods sold by weight.
DRAFT OF HANDS. A certain number of men appointed to serve on board a particular man-of-war, who are then said to be drafted. A transfer of hands from one ship to complete the complement of another.
DRAG. A machine consisting of a sharp square frame of iron encircled with a net, and commonly used to rake the mud off from the platform or bottom of the docks, or to clean rivers, or for dragging on the bottom for anything lost. Also, a creeper.
DRAG FOR THE ANCHOR, To. The same as creep or sweep.
DRAGGING. An old word for dredging.