bowsprit.

BENDER. A contrivance to bend small cross-bows, formerly used in the
navy. Also, "look out for a _bender_," or "strike out for a bend,"
applied to coiling the hempen cables.

BENDING ROPES, is to join them together with a bowline knot, and then
make their own ends fast upon themselves; not so secure as splicing, but
sooner done, and readiest, when it is designed to take them asunder
again. There are several bends, as _Carrick-bend_, _hawser-bend_,
_sheet-bend_, _bowline-bend_, &c.

BENDING THE CABLE. The operation of clinching, or tying the cable to the
ring of its anchor. The term is still used for shackling chain-cables to
their anchors.

BEND-MOULD. A mould made to form the futtocks in the square body,
assisted by the _rising-square_ and _floor-hollow_.

BEND ON THE TACK. In hoisting signals, that piece of rope called the
distant line--which keeps the flags so far asunder that they are not
confused. Also, in setting free sails, the studding-sail tack, &c.

BEND-ROLL. A rest formerly used for a heavy musket.

BENDS. The thickest and strongest planks on the outward part of a ship's
side, between the plank-streaks on which men set their feet in climbing
up. They are more properly called wales, or wails. They are reckoned
from the water, and are distinguished by the titles of _first_,
_second_, or _third bend_. They are the chief strength of a ship's
sides, and have the beams, knees, and foot-hooks bolted to them. Bends
are also the frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to
the top of the side, individualized by each particular station. That at
the broadest part of the ship is denominated the _midship-bend_ or
_dead-flat_.

BE-NEAPED. The situation of a vessel when she is aground at the height
of spring-tides. (_See_ NEAPED.)

BENGAL LIGHT. _See_ BLUE LIGHT.

BENJY. A low-crowned straw-hat, with a very broad brim.

BENK. A north-country term for a low bank, or ledge of rock; probably
the origin of _bunk_, or sleeping-places in merchant vessels. (_See_
BUNK.)

BENN. A small kind of salmon; the earliest in the Solway Frith.

BENT. The trivial name of the _Arundo arenaria_, or coarse unprofitable
grass growing on the sea-shore.

BENTINCK-BOOM. That which stretches the foot of the fore-sail in many
small square-rigged merchantmen; particularly used in whalers among the
ice, with a reefed fore-sail to see clearly ahead. The tack and sheet
are thus dispensed with, a spar with tackle