urrent formed by the tide of the Pentland Firth
against the Isle of Stroma. Also, a seal in those parts.

SWELL. A rolling wave which seldom breaks unless it meets resistance,
generally denoting a continuous heaving, which remains for some time
after the wind which caused it has subsided. Also, the gradual
thickening of the muzzle of a gun, hounds of a mast, &c.

SWIFT. When the lower rigging becomes slack at sea, single blocks are
placed on each shroud about 8 feet above the deck, a hawser rove through
them, and the rigging swifted in, to bring a fair strain. The bars of
the capstan are swifted, by passing a rope-swifter over all their ends,
and bowsing it well taut. The rigging is also swifted down preparatory
to replacing the ratlines truly horizontal after setting up.

SWIFTER. A strong rope, sometimes encircling a boat, about 9 inches
below her gunwale, both to strengthen her and protect her in cases of
collision. (_See_ FENDERS.)

SWIFTERS. A pair of shrouds, fixed on the starboard and port sides of
the lower mast, above the pendants, and before all the other shrouds:
they are never confined to the cat-harpings.

SWIFTING A SHIP. Either bringing her aground or upon a careen; also
passing cables round her bottom and upper-works, to help to keep her
from straining--the "undergirding" mentioned by St. Paul in his
shipwreck.

SWIG OFF, TO. To pull at the bight of a rope by jerks, having its lower
end fast; or to gain on a rope by jumping a man's weight down, instead
of hauling regularly.

SWILKER, TO. A provincialism for splashing about.

SWILL. A wicker fish-basket. The air-bladder of a fish.--_To swill._ To
drink greedily.

SWIM, TO [from the Anglo-Saxon _swymm_]. To move along the surface of
the water by means of the simultaneous movement of the hands and feet.
With the Romans this useful art was an essential part of education.

SWIMS. The flat extremities of east-country barges.

SWINE-FISH. A northern name of the wolf-fish, _Anarhichas lupus_.

SWINE'S FEATHER. The spike or tuck on the top of a musket-rest
[corrupted from _sweyn_, a boar's bristle].

SWING, TO. A ship is said to swing to the wind or tide, when they change
their direction while she is lying at anchor.--_To swing ship for local
attraction and adjustment of compasses._ This is done by taking the
bearings of a very distant object at each point of the compass to which
her head is brought; also, by using a theodolite on shore, and taking