FALLING HOME. When the top-sides are inclined within the perpendicular; opposite of wall-sided. (See [Tumbling Home].)
FALLING OFF. The opposite of griping, or coming up to the wind; it is the movement or direction of the ship's head to leeward of the point whither it was lately directed, particularly when she sails near the wind, or lies by. Also, the angle contained between her nearest approach to the direction of the wind, and her furthest declination from it when trying.
FALLING OUT. When the top-sides project beyond a perpendicular, as in flaring.
FALLING STARS. Meteors which have very much the appearance of real stars. They were falsely regarded as foreboders of wind, as Seneca in Hippolytus, "Ocior cursum rapiente flamma stella cum ventis agitata longos porrigit ignes." Some are earthy, others metallic.
FALLING TIDE, or Ebb of Tide. This phrase, implying a previous flow of tide towards high-water, requires here only a partial explanation: the sea, after swelling for about six hours, and thus entering the mouths of rivers, and rising along the sea-shore more or less, according to the moon's age and other circumstances, rests for a quarter of an hour, and then retreats or ebbs during the next six hours. After a similar pause the phenomenon recommences,—occupying altogether about twelve hours and fifty minutes. A table of the daily time of high-water at each port is requisite for the shipping. There are curious variations to this law, as when strong rivers rise and fall, and yet do not admit salt water. Their currents, indeed, of fresh water, are found far off the land, as in the Tiber, and off several in the West Indies, South America, &c. (See [Tide].)
FALL IN WITH, To. To meet, when speaking of a ship; to discover, when speaking of the land.
FALL OF TIDE. An ebb.
FALL OUT, To. To increase in breadth. Among soldiers and small-arm men, to quit the ranks of a company.
FALLS. When a ship is not flush, this is the term given to those risings of some parts of her decks (which she may have) more than others.
FALL-WIND. A sudden gust.