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

Etre de l’Avant, se mettre de l’Avant, to be in the van of, or ahead in, a fleet.

Le vaisseau est trop sur l’Avant, the vessel is too much by the head.

AVANTAGE, the head, with its cutwater or prow. See Eperon.

Avantage du vent, to be to windward of some other ship.

Avant-garde, the van of a fleet of vessels of war.

AVARIE, the damage or loss which a ship may have sustained, by accidents or bad weather, in her voyage; also the duty paid for anchoring in a port.

AVASTE, avast.

AVAU l’eau, to sail with the tide, to tide it up or down a river.

AUBALÉTRIERES, a sort of stanchions or pillars erected on the sides of a row-galley, to support the rails of the gang-way, and form the bed-place of a soldier.

AUBIER, the sap of timber.