DICTIONARY OF

Work 388 Wythe
Work. Said of parts of a ship that move through action of wind or sea. 2. To work a sight is
to reduce its data to a desired value. 3. Work to windward is to ply to windward.
Work a Traverse. To reduce the various courses and distances sailed to the resultant
changes in latitude and longitude.
Working Days. Those days on which it is customary to work in the given port, the length of
the day being the customary number of hours. A 'working day of 24 hours' would be three
working days in a port at which it was customary to work eight hours a day.
Working Foresail. Fore and aft foresail whose sheet rides on a horse.
Working Gear. Gear or clothing in general use. Sails used when working to windward.
Working Strain. Maximum stress a rope, member, or fitting will bear.
Working Up. Increasing in speed, force, or efficiency.
Worm. To put yarn, or small stuff, in cantlines of a rope that is to be parcelled and served. 2.
Spiral thread, on a shaft, that engages in appropriately cut teeth on a wheel or drum. Has a
large ratio of purchase and rarely 'walks back'.
Wrack. Thin, ragged, fast-moving clouds. 2. Seaweed thrown ashore by sea. 3. To destroy
by wave action. 4. Old form of 'wreck'.
Wreck. Vessel so damaged as to be unseaworthy and incapable of being navigated. Legally,
includes 'jetsam, flotsam, lagan, and derelict found in or on shores of sea or tidal water'.
Wreckage. Fragments of a wrecked vessel. 2. The remains of a wrecked vessel. 3. The act
of wrecking. 4. Goods washed ashore from a wrecked vessel.
Wreck Buoy. Buoy marking the position of a wrecked ship.
Wreck Commission. Court that investigates the causes and circumstances of a wreck. First
sat in 1876.
Wrecker. One who deliberately causes a vessel to be wrecked. 2. One who plunders a
wrecked vessel. 3. One whose duty is to remove cargo from a wrecked vessel on behalf of
owners.
Wriggle. Rigol.
Wring. To strain and deform by excessive stress.
Wring Bolt. Bolt used, in wooden ship building, to bend a strake into position and hold it so
until fastened.
Wring Staff. Wooden handspike used for setting up wring bolts.
Wrinkle. Small protruding bight in skin of a furled sail. 2. Short and pithy piece of helpful
advice.
Wrought Mat. Paunch mat.
Wrung. Said of a mast or spar that has been strained or twisted.
Wry-necked Ned. Nickname given to Admiral Boscawen after a wound in neck caused him
to carry his head on one side.
W/T. Radio telegraph.
W.T. Water-tight.
Wythe. Alternative form of 'withe'.