FLUTE, or Fluyt. A pink-rigged fly-boat, the after-part of which is round-ribbed. Also, vessels only partly armed; as armed en flute.
FLUTTERING. Used in the same sense as flapping.
FLUVIAL, or Fluviatile. Of or belonging to a river.
FLUVIAL LAGOONS. Contradistinguished from marine lagoons, in being formed by river deposits.
FLUX. The flowing in of the tide.
FLY of a Flag. The breadth from the staff to the extreme end that flutters loose in the wind. If an ensign, the part which extends from the union to the outer part; the vertical height, to the head-toggle of which the halliards are bent, or which is next to the staff, is called the hoist; the lower (which is a rope rove through the canvas heading, and into which the head-toggle is spliced) is the long tack; on this rope the whole strain is sustained.
FLY, or Compass-card, placed on the magnetic-needle and supported by a pin, whereon it turns freely. (See [Compass].)
FLY-AWAY. Fictitious resemblance of land; "Dutchman's cape," &c. (See [Cape Fly-away].)
FLY-BLOCK. The block spliced into the topsail-tye; it is large and flat, and sometimes double.
FLY-BOAT. A large flat-bottomed Dutch vessel, whose burden is generally from 300 to 600 tons. It is distinguished by a remarkably high stern, resembling a Gothic turret, and by very broad buttocks below. Also, a swift canal passage-boat.