REDUCE A CHARGE, To. To diminish the contents of a cartridge, sometimes requisite during heavy firing.
REDUCE A PLACE, To. To compel its commander to surrender, or vacate it by capitulation.
REDUCTION of Celestial Observations. The process of calculation, by which observations are rendered subservient to utility.
REEF. A certain portion of a sail comprehended between the head of a sail and any of the reef-bands. The intention of each reef is to reduce the sail in proportion to the increase of the wind; there are also reefs parallel to the foot or bottom of large sails, extended upon booms.—Close-reefed is when all the reefs of the top-sails are taken in.—Reef is also a group or continuous chain of rocks, sufficiently near the surface of the water to occasion its breaking over them. (See [Fringing Reefs] and [Barrier Reefs].)
REEF-BAND. A narrow band of canvas sewed on the reef-line to support the strain of the reef-points. It is pierced with eyelet-holes, through which the points are passed each way with a running eye.
REEF-CRINGLES. See [Cringle].
REEF-EARINGS. See [Earings].
REEFED TOP-MAST. When a top-mast is sprung in or near the cap, the lower piece is cut off, and a new fid-hole cut, by which the mast is reefed or shortened.
REEFERS. A familiar term for midshipmen, because they have to attend in the tops during the operation of taking in reefs.
REEF-KNOT. Is one in which the ends fall always in a line with the outer parts; in fact, two loops, easy to untie, never jamming. That with the second tie across, is termed a granny's knot.