the wet at sea. The tompions are carefully encircled
with tallow or putty for the same purpose. Also, the stopper fitted to
go between the powder and shell in a mortar. This name is often
pronounced as well as written _tompkin_.

TOM-TOM. A small drum, made from the stem of a hollowed tree, generally
of the palm-tribe, as the centre is pithy and the skin flinty. It is
covered by the skin of a lizard or shark, and beaten with the fingers.
It is used throughout the tropics, and produces a hollow monotonous
sound. In the East Indies it is used to proclaim public notices, and to
draw attention to conjurors, snake-charmers, &c.

TON, OR TUN [from the Anglo-Saxon _tunne_]. In commerce, 20 cwt., or
2240 lbs., but in the cubical contents of a ship it is the weight of
water equal to 2000 lbs., by the general standard for liquids. A tun of
wine or oil contains 4 hogsheads. A ton or load of timber is a measure
of 40 cubic feet in the rough, and of 50 when sawn: 42 cubic feet of
articles equal one ton in shipment.

TONEE. A canoe of some burden, made of the hollowed trunk of a tree in
early use on the Malabar coast. (_See_ TERRADA.)

TON FOR TON AND MAN FOR MAN. A phrase implying that ships sailing as
consorts, ought fairly to divide whatever prize they take.

TONGUE [Anglo-Saxon _tunga_]. The long tapered end of one piece of
timber made to fay into a scarph at the end of another piece, to gain
length. Also, a low salient point of land. Also, a dangerous mass of ice
projecting under water from an iceberg or floe, nearly horizontally; it
was on one of these shelves that the _Guardian_ frigate struck.

TONGUE OF A BEVEL. The movable part of the instrument by which the
angles or bevellings are taken.

TONNAGE. A custom or impost formerly granted to the crown for
merchandise imported or exported. Also, the admeasurement of a ship, and
thence to ascertain her cubical contents converted into tons. (_See_
BURDEN.)

TOP. A sort of platform placed over the head of the lower mast, from
which it projects like a scaffold. The principal intention of the top is
to extend the topmast-shrouds, so as to form a greater angle with the
mast, and thereby give it additional support. It is sustained by certain
timbers bolted fore-and-aft on the bibbs or shoulders of the mast, and
called the trestle-trees; athwart these are the cross-trees. In ships of
war it is used as a kind of redoubt, and is fortified accordingly. It is
also very convenient