DICTIONARY OF

Bill of Store 43 Bitt Head
Bill of Store. Document authorising shipment of dutiable articles as ship's stores and free of
duty.
Bill of Sufferance. Customs authority for a vessel to carry dutiable goods when trading in
British waters.
Billow. Large, crested wave. Word is used more by poets than by seamen.
Billy Blue. Nickname given to Admiral Cornwallis (1744-1819) because he usually hoisted
the 'blue peter' immediately after anchoring.
Billyboy. Small, bluff-bowed sailing vessel of Humber river.
Binary Star. One that appears to be a single star but is actually two stars revolving around a
common centre of gravity. Sometimes one is dark star. In all cases the result is that apparent
magnitude of star is a variable quantity.
Binnacle. Stand, of wood or metal, in which a compass is suspended and in which lighting
and compensating units are carried. Top of binnacle protects compass from sea and weather
and, also, reduces glare of lighting.
Binocle. Correct but never used name for binocular glass.
Binoculars. Common name for binocular, or 'two-eyed' glasses. A pair of small telescopes
connected so that each eye looks through one of them. Those used by seamen are either
'Prismatic' or 'Galilean'.
Bipod Mast. Mast consisting of two members joined at the top, their bases separated in
athwartship direction, obviating the need for shrouds.
Bireme. Greek or Roman warship having two banks (or tiers) of oars on each side. Greek
equivalent was 'Dieres'.
Birlin. Large boat, with six or eight oars, anciently used by chieftains of West Hebrides.
Bissextile. Name applied to a leap year, because it had 'two sixth' days before the calends of
March (February 24) instead of an additional day at end of February.
Bite. Anchor is said to bite when it begins to hold in ground.
Bittacle.* Old name for binnacle. From Latin 'habitaculum' (lodging place), or from French
'boite d'aiguille' (box of the needle).
Bitt Compressor. Steel or iron lever with foot hinged near cable bitt, but with a sufficient
clearance for cable to pass. By hauling on a tackle at head of compressor the cable is nipped
against the bitt, and so held while turns are passed around bitt.
Bitter. Turn of cable passed around a riding bitt.
Bitter End. That part of a cable that is inboard of a riding bitt. It has been suggested that
it should be 'better end'; the inboard part having had less wear than the outboard.
Bitt Head. Upper end of a vertical timber passing through two decks, and well secured at
each. Generally used for stoppering, or turning up with, hemp cables.