DICTIONARY OF

Taffrail 345 Tangent Sailing
Taffrail. Originally, upper edge of stern. Later, an ornamental rail going around stern and
above the original taffrail. Now, upper edge of bulwark around the stern.
Taffrail Log. Name given to a patent log towed from aft.
Tail Board. Carved work under bowsprits of old ships.
Tail Block. Block having a short rope tail spliced around strop at head, for attachment by
hitching.
Tail-end Shaft. Tail Shaft.'
Tail Jigger. Jigger with a selvagee tail, instead of a hook, in the double block.
Tail of Bank. Seaward end of a longitudinal shoal in an estuary.
Tail On. Order to assist in manning the fall of a tackle.
Tail Shaft. That part of a propeller shaft that passes through the stern tube and is fitted to
take attachment of the propeller.
Tail Splice. The joining of one rope to another rope that differs in size, or in material.
Tail Tackle. Luff tackle, or watch tackle, with rope or selvagee tail in head of double block,
and hook in single block.
Take a Turn. To take a temporary turn with a rope preparatory to taking in some more of it.
Take Charge. To break away from control. Take In. To furl, or to lower, sails. 2. To load. 3.
To haul in. 4. To receive.
Taken by the Lee. Said of a sailing vessel when her sails are thrown aback by a sudden shift
of wind.
Take Up. Said of seams of a boat when they tighten up and cease to leak.
Taking Off. Said of tide or wind when it is getting less.
Tallant.* Rounded upper part of a rudder.
Tally. To count. Particularly applied to the count of items loaded or discharged by a vessel.
2. The count obtained from tallying. 3. Agreement in numbers or quantities.
Tally Board. Board, bearing instructions, that comes to a wrecked ship with a life-saving
rocket line.
Tally Book. Book in which is kept a reckoning of items of cargo received or discharged
from a hatch or vessel.
Tan. Solution of gum and dark red dye. Used for preserving sails.
Tandem Block. Block having two sheaves in the same plane.
Tangent. Line that touches circumference of a circle but will not cut the circumference if
produced in either direction. More precisely, a line that is perpendicular to the radius of
circle at the point of contact with the circumference.
Tangent Circle. Circle at which the surface of a conical or cylindrical projection touches the
sphere. In cylindrical protections
it is a great circle; in conical projections it is a small circle.
Tangent Point. That point, on a sphere, at which the plane of the projection touches it.
Tangent Sailing. Name formerly given to 'Middle Latitude Sailing*.