LEE-ANCHOR. The leeward one, if under weigh; or that to leeward to which a ship, when moored, is riding.
LEE-BEAM. On the lee-side of the ship, at right angles with the keel.
LEE-BOARDS. Wooden wings or strong frames of plank affixed to the sides of flat-bottomed vessels, such as Dutch schuyts, &c.; these traversing on a stout bolt, by being let down into the water, when the vessel is close-hauled, decrease her drifting to leeward.
LEECHES. The borders or edges of a sail, which are either sloping or perpendicular; those of the square sails are denominated from the ship's side, as the starboard-leech of the main-sail, &c.; but the sails which are fixed obliquely on the masts have their leeches named from their situation with regard to the ship's length, as the hoist or luff, or fore-leech of the mizen, the after-leech of the jib, &c.
LEECH-LINES. Ropes fastened to the leeches of the main-sail, fore-sail, and cross-jack, communicating with blocks under the tops, and serving to truss those sails up to the yards. (See [Brails].)—Harbour leech-lines. Ropes made fast at the middle of the topsail-yards, then passing round the leeches of the top-sails, and through blocks upon the topsail-tye, serving to truss the sails very close up to the yard, previous to their being furled in a body.
LEECH-ROPE. A name given to that vertical part of the bolt-rope to which the border or edge of a sail is sewed. In all sails whose opposite leeches are of the same length, it is terminated above by the earing, and below by the clue. (See [Bolt-rope], [Clue], and [Earings].)
LEE-FANG. A rope rove through the cringle of a sail, for hauling in, so as to lace on a bonnet.
LEE-FANGE. The iron bar upon which the sheets of fore-and-aft sails traverse, in small vessels. (See [Horse].)
LEE-GAUGE. Implies being farther from the point whence the wind blows, than another vessel in company.
LEE-GUNWALE UNDER. A colloquial phrase for being sorely over-pressed, by canvas or other cause.