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

BALANCINES, or Valancines, lifts of the yards.

Balancine de chaloupe, the topping-lift of a boat.

BALANT, the bight or slack part of a rope, also the part which is unemployed.

BALAST. See Lest.

BALAYEUR d’un navire, the swabber or sweeper of a ship, usually called captain-swabber.

BALCONS, the galleries framed in the stern or quarter of a great ship.

BALISE, a sea-mark, the beacon or buoy of a shoal or dangerous channel.

BALOIRES, a name sometimes given to water-lines, and to horizontal ribbands. See Ligne d’eau.

BALON, a sort of galley or barge of Siam.

BANC, a sand-bank; also the bench, thwart, or beam of a boat.