DICTIONARY OF

Shaft Tunnel 304 Shaula
Shaft Tunnel. Enclosed space, between engine-room and stem gland, through which
propeller shaft extends and in which are the shaft bearings.
Shake. Crack in timber due to faulty seasoning or drying. 2. To take hoops off a cask, barrel,
etc., and reduce it to its original parts.
Shakedown Cruise. Voyage of a newly-commissioned warship in which frequent drills are
carried out to familiarise the crew with their various stations and duties.
Shake Out a Reef. To loose a reef in a sail, adjust the sail and sheet home.
Shakes. Staves and headings of casks and barrels when dismantled and bundled together.
Shakmgs. Hoops, staves, and headings of a cask or barrel when dismantled. 2. Cuttings of
canvas, rope, etc., that accrue after fitting or refitting work. Termed 'arisings' in Royal Navy.
Shallop. Small boat for one or two rowers. 2. Small fishing vessel with foresail, boom
mainsail, and mizen trysail. 3. A sloop.
Shallow. Area where depth of water is small. A shoal.
Shallow Water Constituent. Quarter diurnal effect on a tidal undulation that is retarded in
its translation by shoaling of ground or constriction of its path.
Shallow Water Tide. That tidal component which, due to shoaling or constriction, is
separated from the main undulation, and arrives later.
Shamal. A north-west wind in Persian Gulf.
Shamrock Knot. Manipulation of bight of a rope so that three loops are formed round a
central ring. Also called "Jury Mast Knot*.
Shanghaied. Forcibly put aboard a vessel other than one's own ship. Practically impossible
nowadays, but was formerly common in certain American ports when crews deserted on
arrival and bounties were paid to those providing a crew.
Shank. That part of an anchor between the ring and the arms.
Shank Painter. Chain by which shank of anchor is held when stowed on a billboard.
Shanty. Alternative name for 'Chanty'.
Shaping a Course. Laying off the course a vessel is to steer. Also used as meaning the
steering of the course.
Shark. Large carnivorous fish found in tropical and sub-tropical waters. Principal types are
the Basking, Dogfish, Hammer-headed, Tiger and White sharks.
'Shark Flies the Feather. 5 Nautical saying embodying the strange fact that a shark will
attack and devour any creature but a bird.
Sharkskin. Dried skin of the shark. Is rough, but free from scales. Used for smoothing
wood, and for handgrips of swords.
Shark's Mouth. Deep and narrow indentation in canvas of an awning when in the way of a
stay or other permanent rigging.
Sharpie. Long, narrow, flat-bottomed sailing boat.
Sharp Up. Said of yards when braced as far forward as possible.
Shaula. Star Scorpii. S.H.A. 97°; Dec. S37°; Mag. 1-7.