DICTIONARY OF

Telescopic Topmast 348 Tephigram
Telescopic Topmast. Topmast that can be lowered inside a tubular lower mast when
required.
Telltale. General name for a mechanical indicator-such as the pointer on a helm indicator, or
the repeating pointer from engine room. Formerly, was an indicator on beam of cabinshowing
position of helm or rudder.
Tell -Tale Compass. Inverted compass formerly attached to beams of cabin so that direction
of ship's head could be ascertained at any moment by the Master.
Tell -Tale Shake. The shaking of a rope, by a man "working aloft, to indicate that he wishes
it to be slacked or let go.
Temperature Gradient. Rise or fall in temperature of a mass as registered in a horizontal
direction through the mass.
Temperate Zones. Those areas of Earth's surface lying between the Arctic and Antarctic
Circles and the Tropics.
Temperly Transporter. Substantial beam, of I-section, having a carriage on lower flange
and fitted with slings and guys. When slung from a derrick it permits hoisting from points
approximately below beam, hauling of carriage to a point in beam above lowering position,
and lowering-all with one winch. Requires adjustment of guys, possibly of toppinglift, when
loading or discharging points are changed.
Tempest. Violent wind storm.
Template, Templet. Piece of thin wood, or metal, cut to shape of a required fitting or
member, and so acting as a pattern. 2. Perforated strip of metal used as a guide for siting
rivet holes.
Tend. To attend. Formerly said of a vessel at anchor when she swung to the prevailing tidal
stream.
Tendency. Inclination to change. Particularly applied to changing of barometric pressures.
'Barometric Tendency.'
Tender. Said of a vessel having a small righting moment; so being easily moved from her
position of equilibrium, and slow in returning to it. 2. Small vessel employed in attending a
larger vessel, or vessels. 3. To offer for acceptance, or consideration. The act of offering for
acceptance or consideration.
Tenor. General meaning, or purport, of a document or statement.
Tensile Strength. Amount of tension that can be put on a member or fitting without
rupturing it.
Tensile Stresses. Of a ship, are those components of hogging and sagging stresses that tend
to rupture the fore and aft members of her construction.
Tension. State of being stretched or strained so that rigidity is generated. 2. Name
sometimes given to 'voltage'.
Tenth Wave. Commonly believed to be higher than preceding nine waves. Although it is
true that wind effect causes one wave to override another, and so make a larger wave, it is
not established that the eleventh wave will do this - so making a larger tenth wave. In some
places the fifth wave is consistently larger.
Tephigram. Diagram showing atmospheric conditions at various levels of altitude.