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

Aller au Plain, to run ashore.

PLANCHE, the gang-board of a boat.

Mets la Planche, the order to put out the gang-board from the boat’s stern to the shore, to walk out upon.

PLAQUES de plomb, sheet lead, used for several purposes aboard-ship.

PLAT de la varangue, the flat or horizontal part of a floor-timber.

Plat de l’equipage, or un Plat des matelots, a mess or company of seven sailors who eat together. The word literally signifies a bowl or platter, in which the whole mess eat at the same time.

Plat des malades, the sick mess, under the care of the surgeon.

Plat-bord, the gunnel, or gun-wale of a ship.

Plat-bord also means wash-board or weather-board.

Plat-bord a l’eau, gunnel-in, or gunnel-to; expressed of a ship that inclines so much to one side, as to make the gunnel touch the surface of the water by crowding sail in a fresh wind.