FILE. Originally a string of soldiers one behind the other, though in the present formation of British troops, the length of the string has been reduced to two.
FILE. An old file. A somewhat contemptuous epithet for a deep and cunning, but humorous person.
FILE OFF, To. To march off to a flank by files, or with a very small front.
FILL, To. To brace the yards so that the wind strikes the after side of the sails, and advances the ship in her course, after the sails had been shivering, or braced aback. A ship may be forced backward or forward, or made to remain in her place, with the same wind, by "backing, filling," or shivering the sails. (See [Brace], [Back], and [Shiver].) Colliers generally tide it, "backing and filling" down the Thames until they gain the reaches, where there is room for tacking, or the wind is fair enough for them to lay their course.—An idle skulker, a fellow who loiters, trying to avoid being seen by the officer of the watch, is said to be "backing and filling;" otherwise, doing nothing creditably.
FILL AND STAND ON. A signal made after "lying by" to direct the fleet to resume their course.
FILLER. A filling piece in a made mast.
FILLET. An ornamental moulding. Rings on the muzzle and cascabel of guns.
FILLET-HORSE. The horse employed in the shafts of the limbers.
FILLING. In ship-carpentry, wood fitted on a timber or elsewhere to make up a defect in the moulding way. This name is sometimes given to a chock.
FILLING A SHIP'S BOTTOM. Implies covering the bottom of a ship with broad-headed nails, so as to give her a sheathing of iron, to prevent the worms getting into the wood; sheathing with copper is found superior, but the former plan is still used for piles in salt-water.