The first of these are two ranges of small columns, fixed under the beams, throughout the ship’s length between-decks; one range being on the starboard, and the other on the larboard side of the hatchways. They are chiefly intended to support the weight of the artillery.
Stanchions of the nettings, are either slender bars of iron, whose lower ends are fixed in iron sockets at proper distances; or square wooden pillars let into the upper part of the ship’s side. See Quarter-netting.
STANDARD, courbe, in ship-building, is no other than an inverted knee, which is placed above the deck instead of beneath it, and having its vertical branch pointed upwards from that which lies horizontally. The figure and position of one of these standards is expressed by the curve line f, which is dotted through the gun-carriage in the Midship-frame, plate [VII]. Such also are the standards of the bits and channels.
Royal Standard, etendard royale, a flag in which the imperial ensigns of Great Britain, and the arms of France and Ireland, together with the armorial bearings of Hanover, are united and quartered. It is never hoisted unless when the sovereign is personally aboard; at which time it is displayed at the main-top-mast-head.
STANDING, in navigation, the movement by which a ship advances towards a certain object, or departs from it: as the enemy stands in-shore: the English fleet are standing off: at day-break we discovered three sail standing to the northward, &c.
STARBOARD, tribord, the right side of the ship when the eye of the spectator is directed forward. See Larboard.
STAY, (etai, Fr.) a large strong rope employed to support the mast on the fore part, by extending from its upper end towards the fore part of the ship, as the shrouds are extended to the right and left, and behind it. See Mast, Rigging, and Shroud.
The stay of the fore-mast a, fig. 10. plate [IX]. which is called the fore-stay, reaches from the mast-head towards the bowsprit-end: the main-stay b, extends over the fore-castle to the ship’s stem; and the mizen-stay c, is stretched down to that part of the main-mast which lies immediately above the quarter-deck: the fore-top-mast-stay d, comes also to the end of the bowsprit, a little beyond the fore-stay: the main-top-mast-stay e, is attached to the head or hounds of the fore-mast; and the mizen-top-mast-stay comes also to the hounds of the main-mast: the fore-top-gallant-stay comes to the outer end of the jib-boom; and the main-top-gallant-stay is extended to the head of the fore-top-mast.
Stay-sail, a sort of triangular sail extended upon a stay. See Sail.
STEDDY, the command given by the pilot, &c. to the helmsman, in a fair wind, to steer the ship according to the line, on which she advances at that instant, without deviating to the right or left. The helmsman accordingly answers, steddy; to shew his attention and obedience to the pilot’s order.