DICTIONARY OF

Waft 376 Wane
W
Waft. To convoy or escort, a vessel (16th century), 2 Weft.
Wager Policy. Policy of marine insurance issued to an insurer who has not declared his
interest in matter insured. If he has no interest, policy is void in law. Is usually honest, and is
honoured by the insurers unless suspicious features are evident.
Waggoner. Name formerly given to Ursa Major, Auriga, or Bootes.
Waggoner.* Chart atlas of 17th century. Corrupted form of Wagenhaer, a Dutch
cartographer.
Wails.* Wales.
Waist. Upper deck between forecastle and poop, or quarter deck. In sailing ships might be
between fore ends of fore and main hatches, or between fore and main masts.
Waist Anchor. Spare bower anchor stowed at fore end of waist.
Waist Block. Sheave in midship bulwarks of a sailing vessel.
Waist Cloth. Canvas cloth covering hammock nettings in waist of a warship.
Waister.* Inexperienced or partially incapacitated seaman who was given duties in the waist
of a warship, instead of working aloft.
Waist Pipe. Strengthened aperture in midship bulwarks, through which mooring hawsers are
led.
Waiver Clause. Inserted in a policy of marine insurance to safeguard insured and insurers
when vessel appears to be a constructive total loss. It allows either party to take steps to
recover, save, or preserve the property in peril without prejudicing any right regarding
abandonment.
Wake. The water immediately astern of a moving vessel. It is disturbed by vessel's motion
through it and by the subsequent filling up of the cavity made.
Wake Current. That stream of water that flows to fill in the cavity left by a vessel moving
through water.
Wale Knot. Wall knot.
Wales. The strongest strakes in hull of a wooden vessel.
'Walk Away. ' Order to haul on a rope by taking it in hand and walking.
'Walk Back. ' Order to keep a fall in hand but walk back so that the purchase will overhaul
by virtue of its load.
Wallings. The two large mesh nets of a trammel.
Wall Knot. Made in end of a rope by unlaying strands, and passing each strand up and
through bight of next strand, working in direction of lay of rope.
Wall-Sided. Said of a vessel having perpendicular sides.
Walt, Walty. Crank, cranky.
Walrus. Carnivorous sea mammal, about 10 to 12 ft. long, found in arctic regions. Name
means 'whale horse'.
Wane. Decrease of Moon's illuminated area, as viewed from Earth.