This reasoning may with equal propriety be applied to the wad that covers the bullet; which, nevertheless, is absolutely requisite, to prevent it from rolling out when the piece is fired horizontally or pointed downwards. Both are therefore peculiarly necessary in naval engagements, because, without being thus retained in its chamber, the shot would instantly roll out of the chace by the agitation of the vessel.
WAFT, berne, a signal displayed from the stern of a ship for some particular purpose, by hoisting the ensign, furled up together into a long roll, to the head of its staff. It is particularly used to summon the boats off from the shore to the ship whereto they belong; or as a signal for a pilot to repair aboard. See Signal.
WAIST, that part of a ship which is contained between the quarter-deck and fore-castle, being usually a hollow space, with an ascent of several steps to either of those places.
When the waist of a merchant-ship is only one or two steps of descent from the quarter-deck and fore-castle, she is said to be galley-built; but when it is considerably deeper, as with six or seven steps, she is called frigate-built. See the articles Deck, Deep-waisted, and Frigate.
WAKE, houaiche, the print or track impressed by the course of a ship on the surface of the water. It is formed by the re-union of the body of water, which was separated by the ship’s bottom whilst moving through it and may be seen to a considerable distance behind the stern, as smoother than the rest of the sea. Hence it is usually observed by the compass, to discover the angle of Lee-way.
A ship is said to be in the wake, dans l’eau, of another, when she follows her on the same track, or on a line supposed to be formed on the continuation of her keel. Thus the ships a b, fig. 11. and a b, fig. 7. plate [V]. are all in the wake of the foremost b. See the article Line.
Two distant objects observed at sea are called in the wake of each other, when the view of the farthest is intercepted by the nearest; so that the observer’s eye and the two objects are all placed upon the same right line.
WALE-KNOT, or WALL-KNOT, a particular sort of large knot raised upon the end of a rope, by untwisting the strands, and interweaving them amongst each other. See the article Knot.
WALE-REARED, an obsolete phrase, implying wall-sided, which see.
WALES, preceintes, an assemblage of strong planks extending along a ship’s side, throughout her whole length, at different heights, and serving to reinforce the decks, and form the curves by which the vessel appears light and graceful on the water.