ractice of ship-building.

SUSPENSION OF ARMS. A short truce agreed upon by contending forces, for
a special object of importance.

SUTILES. Ancient cobles made of strong staves sewed together, and
covered with leather or skins.

SUTLER. A victualler who follows the camp to sell provisions to the
troops. In garrisons and garrison-towns there are also sutlers who
provide victuals of every kind; but Drayton's sutlers must have been
very petty traders, as, when at Agincourt, Isambert's "rascals" were
noted--

"For setting on those with the luggage left,
A few poor sutlers with the campe that went,
They basely fell to pillage and to theft."

SWAB. A sort of long mop, formed of rope-yarns of old junk, used for
cleaning and drying the decks and cabins of a ship. Also, a sobriquet
for a sot. Also, for an epaulette.--_Hand-swab._ A small swab for wiping
dry the stern-sheets of a boat, washing plates and dishes, &c.

SWABBER. Formerly a petty officer on board ships of war, whose
employment was to see that the decks were kept clean. Also, a man
formerly appointed to use the swabs in drying up the decks. He was
sometimes called ship's sweeper; more commonly captain of swabbers.

SWAB-ROPE. A line bent to the eye of a swab for dipping it overboard in
washing it.

SWAB-WASHER. The principal swab-washer, or captain of the head, in large
ships.

SWAB-WRINGERS. People appointed to wash the swabs and wring them out,
ready for use.

SWAD, OR SWADKIN. A newly raised soldier. Also, a fish-basket.

SWADDIE. A discharged soldier.

SWAGG, TO. To sink down by its own weight; to move heavily or bend.
Synonymous with _sagg_. Also, the bellying of a heavy rope.

SWAKE. A provincial term for a pump-handle.

SWALLOW. The score of a block.

SWALLOW'S TAIL. In fortification, an old form of outwork, having its
front broken into a re-entering angle, and its two long flanks
converging towards the rear.

SWALLOW-TAILS. The points of a burgee. Also, the tails of a coat.

SWAMP. A tract of land or bog on which, from its impermeable bottom, the
collected fresh water remains stagnant.

SWAPE. A wooden support for a small light. Also, a pump-handle; a lever.
Also, a long oar used in working a coal-keel in the north.

SWART-BACK. The _Larus marinus_, or great black and white gull.

SWARTS. A name formerly applied by voyagers to Indians and negroes.

SWASH. A sudden surge of the sea. Also, a shoal in a tide-way or mouth
o