DICTIONARY OF

Step 332 Sticks
Step. The fitting in which the lower end of a mast is placed. To step a mast is to upright it,
and ship the heel in the step.
Stepney. For generations has been considered the parish of British seamen. It was
customary, until recently, to inform rector of the parish church of all births and baptisms at
sea. Births now are notified to Somerset House from official logs, when rendered.
Stereographic Projection. Representation of concave surface of a hemisphere to a plane
that is a great circle of the sphere; the observer being considered as being at inferior pole of
the great circle.
Stern. After end of a vessel. Originally, the word meant "steering part'-and was applied to
tiller and rudder.
Stern Anchor. Anchor carried aft for anchoring by the stern.
Sternboard. Track of a vessel when going astern. 2. To make a sternboard; to force a vessel
astern under sail.
Stern Chase. Pursuit of one vessel by another vessel astern of her.
Stern Chaser. Gun capable of firing directly astern.
Stern Fast. Mooring-rope leading, approximately, astern.
Stern Frame. Substantial member often combining rudder-post, propeller post, and their
extensions. After ends of plating are secured to it. It frequently carries rudder and propeller.
Stern Knee. Extension of keelson to take heel of stern post.
Stern Light. White light shown astern by all vessels when being overtaken. Usually fixed,
and shown from sunset to sunrise.
Sternmost. Farthest astern,
Stern Port. Opening in stern of ship for gun, ventilation, admission: of light, or for loading
cargo.
Stern Post. Vertical member at after end of hull. In single-screw J vessels it usually carries
rudder and forms part of stern frame. In wooden vessels, is a vertical timber resting on after
end of keel.
Stern Sheets. That space, in a boat, abaft after thwart; or between after thwart and
backboard.
Sternson. Stern knees.
Stern Tube. Watertight cast-iron tube through which propeller shaft is passed for
attachment of propeller.
Stern Walk. Kind of balcony that, until recent years, was fitted on the sterns of larger
warships.
Sternway. Astern motion of a vessel through the water.
Sternwheeler. Shallow draught steam vessel propelled by a wide paddle-wheel at stern.
Formerly used on Nile, Mississippi, and other rivers.
Stevedore. Man who stows or unloads cargo in a hold.
Steward. Man concerned with the feeding of officers, crew, and passengers in a ship, and
with the cleanliness and upkeep of living accommodation.
Stick a Cringle. To insert a thimble in a rope loop worked in a bolt-rope or awning roping.
Sticks. Nautical nickname for masts.