To Spring a leak. See the article Leak.
Springing the Luff. See Luff.
Spring-tide, the periodical excess of the elevation and depression of the Tide. See that article.
SPRIT, (spryttan, Sax. to branch out) a small boom or pole which crosses the sail of a boat diagonally, from the mast, to the upper hindmost corner of the sail, which it is used to extend and elevate: the lower end of the sprit rests in a sort of wreath or collar called the snotter, which encircles the mast in that place. These sort of sails are accordingly called sprit-sails.
SPRITSAIL, civadiere, a sail attached to a yard which hangs under the bowsprit, as represented in fig. 2. y, plate [IX]. It is furnished with a large hole in each of its lower corners, to evacuate the water with which the cavity, or belly of it is frequently filled, by the surge of the sea when the ship pitches.
Spritsail-topsail, perroquet de beaupré, a sail extended above the former, by a yard which hangs across the gib-boom. The lower corners of this sail are hauled home to the spritsail-yard-arms; after which the sail is drawn out towards the extremity of the boom, in light winds, as any other topsail-yard is hoisted upon its mast.
Formerly the spritsail-topsails were set on a mast, which was erected perpendicularly on the end of the bowsprit: but this method has of late been justly rejected as inconvenient and dangerous to the bowsprit, although serviceable in light breezes,
SPUNGE. See the article Cannon.
SPUN-YARN, bittord, a small line or cord formed of two or three rope-yarns twisted together by a winch. The yarns of which it is usually made at sea, are drawn out of the strands of old cables or other ropes, and are knotted together and tarred. It is employed for several purposes; particularly to fasten one rope to another, to seize block-strops to the shrouds, and to serve ropes which are liable to be chafed by rubbing one against another, &c.
SPURS of the beams. See the article Deck, and the explanation of the figure annexed thereto.