exercised on the plumb-line by the vicinity of high land. But exerting
also a marvellous effect on all floating bodies, for every seaman knows
that a ship stands inshore faster than she stands out, the distances
being similar.

ATWEEN, OR ATWIXT. Betwixt or between, shortened into _'tween_, that is,
in the intermediate space. The word _'tween decks_ is usually applied to
the lower deck of a frigate, and _orlop_ to that of a line-of-battle
ship.

AUBERK, OR HAUBERK. One who held land to be ready with a coat of mail
and attend his lord when called upon so to do. Thus the old poet:--

"Auberk, sketoun, and scheld
Was mani to-broken in that feld."

AUDIT. The final passing of accounts.

AUDITORS OF THE IMPREST. Officers who had the charge of the great
accounts of the royal customs, naval and military expenses, &c.; they
are now superseded by the commissioners for auditing the public
accounts.

AUGES. An astronomical term, synonymous with _apsides_.

AUGET. A tube filled with powder for firing a mine.

AUGMENTATION OF THE MOON'S DIAMETER. The increase of her apparent
diameter occasioned by an increase of altitude: or that which is due to
the difference between her distance from the observer and the centre of
the earth.

AUGRE, OR AUGER. A wimble, or instrument for boring holes for bolts,
tree-nails, and other purposes.

AUK, OR AWK. A sea-bird with short wings. The great auk or gair-fowl
(_Alca impennis_) was formerly common on all the northern coasts, where
they laid their eggs, ingeniously poised, on the bare rocks. They were
very good eating, and having been taken in great numbers by the
Esquimaux, and by European sailors on whaling voyages, the species is
now supposed to be exterminated.

AULIN. An arctic gull (_Cataractes parasiticus_), given to make other
sea-birds mute through fear, and then eat their discharge--whence it is
termed _dirty aulin_ by the northern boatmen.

AUMBREY. An old north-country term for a bread and cheese locker.

AUNE. Contraction of _ulna_. French cloth measure: at Rouen it is equal
to the English ell--at Paris 0.95--at Calais 1.52 of that measure.

AURIGA. A northern constellation, and one of the old 48 asterisms; it is
popularly known as the _Waggoner_: {a} Auriga, Capella.

AURORA. The faint light which precedes sunrising. Also the mythological
mother of the winds and stars.

AURORA AUSTRALIS OR BOREALIS. The extraordinary and luminous meteoric
phenomenon which