DICTIONARY OF

Armed Merchant Cruiser 22 Ascending Node
Armed Merchant Cruiser. Ocean liner taken over by Admiralty, in time of war, armed
with guns and other weapons, manned by naval officers and ratings and employed on active
service.
Armilla.* Former astronomical and navigational instrument consisting of rings that
represented great circles of the celestial sphere. When aligned and suspended from a point
that represented the zenith it indicated position of Ecliptic or Equinoctial. Equinoctial
armilla was used to determine arrival of Equinox; solstitial armilla measured Sun's altitude.
Ancillary Sphere. Armilla having nine skeleton circles. Used for astronomical purposes
from 3rd century B.C. until 18th century
A.D. Arming. Tallow or soap put in cavity at heel of a sounding lead or sinker to obtain a
specimen of sea bed.
Arm of Anchor. That part of an anchor which extends from crown to fluke.
Armstrong's Patent. Humorous nickname for manually-worked machinery.
Arrest. Temporary detention and restraint of action when imposed by lawful authority.
Arse. Choke end of a common wood block.
Artemon. Small foresail of ancient Mediterranean vessels.
'Articles.' Short name for 'Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea',* or for the
'Articles of Agreement' between master and crew.
Articles of Agreement. Legal and binding agreement, entered into by master of ship and
crew, concerning duties, conditions of service and remuneration. Terminates on fulfilment of
embodied conditions or on a specified date. May terminate before time intended by mutual
consent of master and seaman; by physical inability of seaman to continue service; by wreck
or loss of ship.
Articles of War. Royal Navy code of discipline. Defines duties and embodies maximum
punishments for stated offences.
Artificial Eye. Made in end of a rope by unlaying one strand, turning over the part from
which strand has been taken, so that an eye is formed, and relaying single strand in opposite
direction. Finished off by tucking ends.
Artificial Horizon. Perfectly horizontal reflecting surface used when obtaining altitudes
where no horizon is available. Mercury is usual, but highly-polished surfaces, correctly
levelled, may be used. Can be employed only when ashore. Bubble sextants are the usual
alternatives for marine work.
Artificial Projection. Projection, of surface or sphere to a plane, in which fixed laws are
evident but which entails distortion and alteration of perspective shape of area projected.
Ascending Node. Node in which Moon or planet passes to northward of Ecliptic.