POINTING. The operation of unlaying and tapering the end of a rope, and weaving some of its yarns about the diminished part, which is very neat to the eye, prevents it from being fagged out, and makes it handy for reeving in a block, &c.
POINT OF THE COMPASS. The 32d part of the circumference, or 11° 15′.
POINTS. See [Reef-points].—Armed at all points, is when a man is defended by armour cap-à-pie.
POINTS OF SERVICE. The principal details of duty, which ought to be executed with zeal and alacrity.
POLACRE. A ship or brig of the Mediterranean; the masts are commonly formed of one spar from truck to heel, so that they have neither tops nor cross-trees, neither have they any foot-ropes to their upper yards, because the men stand upon the topsail-yards to loose and furl the top-gallant sails, and upon the lower yards to loose, reef, or furl the top-sails, all the yards being lowered sufficiently for that purpose.
POLANS. Knee-pieces in armour.
POLAR CIRCLES. The Arctic and the Antarctic; 23° 28′ from either pole.
POLAR COMPRESSION. See [Compression of the Poles].
POLAR DISTANCE. The complement of the declination. The angular distance of a heavenly body from one of the poles, counted on from 0° to 180°.
POLARIS. See [Pole-star].