DICTIONARY OF

Booby Hatch 50 Borda's Circle
Booby Hatch. Sliding cover that has to be pushed away to allow passage to or from a store
room, cabin of small craft, or crew's quarters.
Boom. Spar for extending foot of sail; usually for fore and aft sails-but studding sails were
sheeted to booms. 2. Floating and moored obstruction placed across a navigable channel to
prevent passage of enemy vessels, and to detain them while under fire. 3. A derrick boom.
4. Dhow largely used in Persian Gulf. Double ended, straight stem, steered by a yoke,
plank bowsprit.
Boom Cradle. Block having a semi-circular recess for end of boom to rest in.
Boom Crutch. Vertical support for a boom when not in use.
Boom Foresail. Sail on after side of schooner's foremast, and having a gaff and boom. It
is, actually, the foresail, but is given the name to differentiate it from the forestaysail - which
is often called the 'foresail'.
Boom Guy. After guy of a spinaker or studdingsail boom.
Boom Irons. Flat, circular fittings at quarters and ends of yards of square rigged ships that
carry studdingsail booms.
Boom Jigger. Tackle used for rigging out a studdingsail boom.
Boomkin. Small boom projecting from ship's side to give more spread to sail. Rigged
forward, it takes fore tack; further aft, it takes standing part of main tack; right aft, takes tack
of main trysail. Booms. Spar deck between fore and main masts; on which spare
booms, spars and boats are stowed.
Boom Square Sail. Name given to fore course in some old ships when foot of sail was
extended on a boom - to facilitate getting it over fore stay when tacking.
Boom Stays. Attachments of boom to mast, together with fittings that keep heel of boom in
its correct place. Bootes. (Greek = Ploughman) Constellation in approx. R.A. 14 h;
Dec. 20°N. Has one bright star, Arcturus.
Booti. Small coastal dhow of 20 to 40 tons. Has mat bulwarks. Undecked.
Bootlegging. Carrying intoxicating liquors up to, sometimes into, territorial waters of
U.S.A. during period when prohibition was in force (1920-33). Boot Top. Ship's side
plating between light and load water lines.
Boot Topping. Paint or composition used for protection or preservation of boot top. In
18th century meant scraping ship's side in way of water line and then coating this area with a
compound of resin, sulphur and tallow as a protection against worm and weed.
Bora. NE'ly winter wind in Adriatic Sea, often dangerous because it arrives without
warning.
Bordage.* Planking on sides of wooden ship.
Borda's Circle. Repeating reflecting circle for measuring horizontal angles with great
precision.