amidships brings the leeches
taut on a wind. It is principally worked by its bowline.

BENTINCKS. Triangular courses, so named after Captain Bentinck, by whom
they were invented, but which have since been superseded by storm
staysails. They are still used by the Americans as trysails.

BENTINCK-SHROUDS. Formerly used; extending from the weather-futtock
staves to the opposite lee-channels.

BENT ON A SPLICE. Going to be married.

BERG. A word adopted from the German, and applied to the features of
land distinguished as steppes, banquettes, shelves, terraces, and
parallel roads. (_See_ ICEBERG.)

BERGLE. A northern name for the wrasse.

BERM. In fortification, a narrow space of level ground, averaging about
a foot and a half in width, generally left between the foot of the
exterior slope of the parapet and the top of the escarp; in permanent
fortification its principal purpose is to retain the earth of the
parapet, which, when the latter is deformed by fire or by weather, would
otherwise fall into the ditch; in field fortification it also serves to
protect the escarp from the pressure of a too imminent parapet.

BERMUDA SAILS. _See_ 'MUDIAN.

BERMUDA SQUALL. A sudden and strong wintry tempest experienced in the
Atlantic Ocean, near the Bermudas; it is preceded by heavy clouds,
thunder, and lightning. It belongs to the Gulf Stream, and is felt,
throughout its course, up to the banks of Newfoundland.

BERMUDIANS. Three-masted schooners, built at Bermuda during the war of
1814; they went through the waves without rising to them, and
consequently were too ticklish for northern stations.

BERNAK. The barnacle goose (_Anser bernicla_).

BERSIS. A species of cannon formerly much used at sea.

BERTH. The station in which a ship rides at anchor, either alone, or in
a fleet; as, she lies in a good berth, _i.e._ in good anchoring ground,
well sheltered from the wind and sea, and at a proper distance from the
shore and other vessels.--_Snug berth_, a place, situation, or
establishment. A sleeping berth.--_To berth a vessel_, is to fix upon,
and put her into the place she is to occupy.--_To berth a ship's
company_, to allot to each man the space in which his hammock is to be
hung, giving the customary 14 inches in width.--_To give a berth_, to
keep clear of, as to give a point of land a wide berth, is to keep at a
due distance from it.

BERTH. The room or apartment where any number of the officers, or ship's
company,