RECEIVERS OF WRECK. Persons specially charged with wrecked property for the benefit of the shipping interests.
RECEIVING-SHIP. At any port, to receive supernumerary seamen, or entered or impressed men for the royal navy.
RECIPROCATE. The alternate motion balancing a steam-engine.
RECIPROCITY. The enlarging or contracting particular admiralty statutes, to meet the usages of foreign powers.
RECKONING, Ship's. The ship's position resulting from the courses steered, and distances run by log, brought up from the last astronomical observations. If unaccompanied by corrections for longitude by chronometer, and for latitude, it is termed only the dead-reckoning.
RECOIL. The running in of a gun when discharged, which backward motion is caused by the force of the fire.
RECONNAISSANCE. A word adopted from the French, as meaning a military or nautical examination of a place.
RECONNOITRING. Sailing within gun-shot of an enemy's port to ascertain his strength and capabilities for offence and defence. Also, a rapid examination of coasts and countries, for correcting the defects of many previous maps and charts.
RECREANT. This term was for him who had yielded in single combat.
RECTA PRISA REGIS. In law, the sovereign's right to prisage, or one pipe of wine before, and another behind the masts, as customary in every cargo of wine.