An Universal Dictionary of the Marine / Or, a Copious Explanation of the Technical Terms and Phrases Employed in the Construction, Equipment, Furniture, Machinery, Movements, and Military Operations of a Ship. Illustrated With Variety of Original Designs of Shipping, in Different Situations; Together With Separate Views of Their Masts, Sails, Yards, and Rigging. to Which Is Annexed, a Translation of the French Sea-terms and Phrases, Collected from the Works of Mess. Du Hamel, Aubin, Saverien, &c.

by William Falconer

The stoppers of the shrouds have a knot and a laniard at each end. They are only used when the shrouds are cut asunder in battle, or disabled by tempestuous weather; at which time they are lashed, in the same manner as those of the cables, to the separated parts of the shroud, which are thereby reunited, so as to be fit for immediate service. This, however, is only a temporary expedient, applied when there is not time or opportunity to refit them, by a more complete operation.

STORE-KEEPER, garde-magasin, an officer in the royal dock-yards, invested with the charge of the principal naval stores; as the sails, anchors, cordage, &c.

Store-room, soute, an apartment, or place of reserve, of which there are several in a ship, to contain the provisions, or stores of a ship, together with those of her officers, during a sea-voyage.

STOWAGE, arrimage, the general disposition of the several materials contained in a ship’s hold, with regard to their figure, magnitude, or solidity.

In the stowage of different articles, as ballast, casks, cases, bales, and boxes, there are several general rules to be observed, according to the circumstances or qualities of those materials. The casks, which contain any liquid, are, according to the sea phrase, to be bung-up and bilge-free, i. e. closely wedged up, in an horizontal position, and resting on their quarters: so that the bilges, where they are thickest, being entirely free all round, cannot rub against each other, by the motion of the vessel. Dry goods, or such as may be damaged by the water, are to be carefully inclosed in casks, bales, cases, or wrappers; and wedged off from the bottom and sides of the ship, as well as from the bows, masts, and pump-well. Due attention must likewise be had to their disposition, with regard to each other, and to the trim and centre of gravity of the ship; so that the heaviest may always be nearest the keel, and the lightest gradually above them. See Ballast, Trim, and Rolling.

STRAIT, etroite, a narrow channel, or arm of the sea, contained between two opposite shores; as the straits of Gibraltar; the straits of Sunda; the straits of Dover, &c.

STRAKES, or STREAKS, the uniform ranges of planks on the bottom and sides of a ship; or the continuation of planks joined to the end of each other, and reaching from the stem, which limits the vessel forward, to the stern-post, and fashion-pieces, which terminate her length abaft. The lowest of these, which is called the garboard-streak, is let into the keel below, and into the stem and stern-post. See those articles.

STRAND, touron, one of the twists, or divisions, of which a rope is composed. See the articles Rope and Cable.

Strand also implies the sea-beach: hence a ship is said to be stranded when she has run a-ground on the sea-shore.

STRETCHER, banquet, a sort of staff fixed athwart the bottom of a boat, for the rower to place his feet against, in order to communicate a greater effort to his oar.