DICTIONARY OF

Arctic Current 21 Armed Mast
Arctic Current. Ocean current flowing from Davis Strait, along coasts of Labrador and
Newfoundland, meeting Gulf Stream in latitude 41° to 42° N. It then turns eastward. From
March onwards it brings down icebergs. Also known as 'Labrador Current', 'Davis Current'.
Arctic Sea Smoke. Fog on surface of sea when caused by cold air moving over warm water.
Arctic Zone. Area north of Arctic Circle.
Arctophylax. Old name for constellation Bootes. Name is sometimes given to star Arcturus.
Is Greek for 'Bear Watcher'.
Arcturus. Star Bootes. S.H.A. 147°; Dec. N 19°; Mag. 0-2. Diameter is 30 times that of
Sun. candlepower is 100 times greater. Distant 41 light years; temperature 4100°A. Name is
Greek for 'Bear Warden'.
Ardent. Said of a vessel under sail when she tends to run up quickly into the wind, and
requires an unusual amount of weather helm.
Argentum. Skin layer of fishes. It makes them iridescent by reflecting light.
Argo. Southern constellation in about R.A. 6h to llh; Dec. 37°-70° S. Named after
mythological ship of Jason. Divided, by Herschel, into various parts: keel (carina), mast
(malus), poop (puppis), sails (vela); stars being named by astronomers—but not seaman—
after their part of ship. Canopus is principal star. Argus (Carinae) is a variable star, going
from Mag. 1 to 7 ½ in 70 years.
Argon. Gas forming nearly 1 per cent of atmosphere.
Argonauts. Legendary companions of Jason, in ship 'Argo', when he sailed to regain the
Golden Fleece. 2. Sea creature, with tentacles and a shell, often seen floating on surface of
sea.
Argosy. Large Adriatic merchant ship of middle ages. Word is used, poetically, for freightcarrying
ships in general. Is a corrupt form of Ragusa, the principal port from which the
argosy sailed.
Argument. When using navigational, or other tables, is the known value, or values, with
which the tables are entered.
Aries (The Ram). Constellation situated between R.A.s 01 h 45m and 03h and Dec. 15° to
25° N. Has two navigational stars a (Hamel) and £ Arietis. 2. First sign of Zodiac, extending
from 0° to 30° celestial longitude. Sun is in this sign from March 21 to April 20 (about).
Name is often used as a short form of 'First Point of Aries'.
Arisings. Old or damaged material that remains when repairs or refitting have been carried
out.
Ark. Any enclosed vessel that will float. 2. Vessel, about the size of a medium liner, built by
Noah. 3. Large boat formerly used on rivers of U.S.A. for transporting provisions.
Armada. A fleet of warships.
Armed Mast. A built mast.