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

Touching-at, implies the circumstance of stopping, or anchoring occasionally, at some intermediate port, in the course of a voyage.

To TOW, remorquer, (teon, teohan, Sax.) to draw a ship forward in the water, by means of a rope attached to another vessel or boat, which advances by the effort of rowing or sailing.

Towing is either practised when a ship is disabled, and rendered incapable of carrying sail at sea; or when her sails are not fixed upon the masts, as in a harbour: or when they are deprived of their force of action by a cessation of the wind.

When a ship of war is dismasted, or otherwise disabled from carrying sail at sea, she is usually towed by a cable reaching from her bow to another ship a-head. In a harbour towing is practised by one or more boats, wherein all the force of the oars are exerted to make her advance.

Tow-line, a small hauser generally used to remove a ship from one part of an harbour or road to another, by means of anchors, capsterns, &c. as explained in the article Warping. It is also employed occasionally to moor a small vessel in a harbour, conveniently sheltered from the wind and sea.

Tow-rope, a name given to any cable or other rope used in the exercise of towing.

TRACING-LINE, martinet, a small cord generally passing through a block or thimble, and used to hoist up any object to a higher station, in order to render it less inconvenient. Such are the tracing-lines of the awnings, and those of the yard-tackles, which, by hanging down in a cavity or bight, would be aukward and incommodious.

TRACK of a ship. See the article Wake.

TRACKING, the act of pulling any vessel or floating body along the stream of a canal or river, by means of a rope extending from the vessel, &c. to the adjacent shore, and drawn along the banks of the river, by men or horses. Whence,

TRACK-SCOUT, a vessel employed to carry goods or passengers up and down the rivers or canals in Holland, and the countries bordering on the Baltic sea. It is usually tracked by a horse, who trots along the margin to a limited distance, after which he is relieved by another.