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

VOYAL, tournevire, a large rope used to unmoor, or heave up the anchors of a ship, by transmitting the effort of the capstern to the cables.

This is performed by fastening one part of the voyal to the cable in several places, and by winding another part thereof three or four times about the capstern, which answers the same purpose as if the cable itself were in that manner wound about the capstern; and the voyal being much lighter and more pliant, is infinitely more convenient in this exercise. See the articles Capstern and Nipper.

If the cable is drawn into the ship by the main capstern, the voyal is used without any block: but if the capstern in the fore-part of the ship be employed for this purpose, the voyal usually passes through a large block attached to the main-mast; and thence communicates with the jear-capstern.

UPPER-DECK, the highest of those decks which are continued throughout the whole of a ship of war, or merchantman, without any interruption, of steps or irregular ascents. See Deck and Waist.

UPPER-WORK, oeuvres mortes, a general name given to all that part of a ship which is above the surface of the water when she is properly balanced for a sea-voyage: hence it may be considered as separated from the bottom by the main wale, as explained particularly in the article Naval Architecture.

UPRIGHT, the situation wherein the opposite sides of a ship are equally elevated above the surface of the water, as in fig. 2. plate [VI].; or when she neither inclines to the right nor left, with regard to the vertical position of her stem and stern-post.

USES AND CUSTOMS of the sea; certain general principles which compose the basis of marine jurisprudence, and regulate the affairs of commerce and navigation.

W.

WAD, bourrelet, a quantity of old rope-yarns rolled firmly together into the form of a ball, and used to confine the shot or shell, together with its charge of powder, in the breech of a piece of artillery.

M. Le Blond observes, in his Elements of war, that the wad is necessary to retain the charge closely in the chamber of the cannon, so that it may not, when fired, be dilated around the sides of the ball, by its windage as it passes through the chace; a circumstance which would considerably diminish the effort of the powder. But as the wad cannot be fastened to the sides of the bore, it is carried away in the same instant when the charge is inflamed, and that with so little resistance, that it cannot in any degree retard the explosion, or give time for the entire inflammation of the powder.