DICTIONARY OF

Paying off Pendant 249 Pendant
Paying Off Pendant. Very long pendant flown by H.M. ship when proceeding home to pay
off. Length may be anything up to one foot for every month in commission, plus length of
ship.
Pay Off. To discharge a crew and close Articles of Agreement of a merchant ship. 2. To
terminate commission of H.M. ship. 3. Said of ship's head when it moves away from wind,
especially when tacking.
Pay Out. To veer a rope or cable.
Pay Round. Turn ship's head to leeward by wind and sail action.
Pazaree. Rope, from clew of foresail, rove through block of lower studdingsail boom when
running free.
Pea. Extremity of arm of anchor. Bill, or peak, of anchor.
Pea Jacket. Loose jacket, of coarse woollen material, formerly used by seamen and
fishermen.
Peak. After upper corner of spanker or trysail. After end of gaff. 2. Pea of anchor.
Peak Downhaul. Rope rove through block at end of gaff to steady gaff when hauling it
down.
Peak Halyards. Rope or purchase used for hoisting peak of gaff. 2. Ensign halyards rove
through block at peak of gaff.
Peak Purchase. Peak halyards when rove as a purchase.
Peak Tank. Ballast tank in extreme end of vessel, either forward or aft.
Peak Tye. Tye rove for hoisting peak of gaff.
Pegasus. Northern constellation on side of Pole opposite to Ursa Major. Distinctive feature
is the 'Great square of Pegasus* made by Alpheratz, Scheat, Markhab and Algenib.
Peggy. Merchant Navy nickname for seaman whose turn of duty it is to keep the messing
place clean.
Peg to Windward. Beat, claw or work to windward.
Pelican Hook. Name sometimes given to a slip hook.
Pelorus. Dumb compass dial, pivoted and movable by hand, which can be shipped in an
appropriate position for observing bearings of objects obscured at compass. Has its own
lubber line. Objects observed when pelorus is set to zero will indicate their relative bearings;
when set to ship's course they will indicate compass bearings.
Pelorus Jack. A white dolphin, about 15 ft. long, that persistently accompanied steamships
through French Passage in Pelorus Sound, New Zealand, from the 1870s to 1912. His age
has been estimated as nearly 300 years. Was a unique specimen, and his life was protected
by legislation of New Zealand Government. A report of his death resulted in flags being
flown at half mast in Wellington.
Penalty Clause. Clause attached to an agreement to stipulate penalty for infringement or
non-fulfilment, so making it binding.
Pencel. Very small, narrow flag.
Pendant. Length of rope or wire connecting the standing block of a purchase with a fixed
point of attachment. Used in derrick guys, at booms, yardarms, etc. 2. Alternative form of
'Pennant'.