HANDS REEF TOP-SAILS! The order to reef by all hands, instead of the watch, or watch and idlers.
HAND-TIGHT. A rope hauled as taut as it can be by hand only.
HAND-UNDER-HAND. Descending a rope by the converse of hand-over-hand ascent.
HANDY-BILLY. A small jigger purchase, used particularly in tops or the holds, for assisting in hoisting when weak-handed. A watch-tackle. (See [Jigger].)
HANDY-SHIP. One that steers easily, and can be worked with the watch; or as some seamen would express it, "work herself."
HANG. In timber, opposed to [sny] (which see).—To hang. Said of a mast that inclines; it hangs forward, if too much stayed; hangs aft, if it requires staying.—To hang the mast. By some temporary means, until the mast-rope be fleeted.—To hang on a rope or tackle-fall, is to hold it fast without belaying; also to pull forcibly with the whole weight.—To hang aback. To be slack on duty.
HANGER. The old word for the Persian dagger, and latterly for a short curved sword.
HANG-FIRE. When the priming burns without igniting the cartridge, or the charge does not rapidly ignite after pulling the trigger. Figuratively, to hang fire, is to hesitate or flinch.
HANGING. A word expressive of anything declining in the middle part below a straight line, as the hanging of a deck or a sheer. Also, when a ship is difficult to be removed from the stocks, or in manœuvre.
HANGING-BLOCKS. These are sometimes fitted with a long and short leg, and lash over the eyes of the top-mast rigging; when under, they are made fast to a strap. The topsail-tye reeves through these blocks, the tye-block on the yard, and the standing part is secured to the mast-head.