swain is the officer of the first
lieutenant; he gives no order, but reports defects, and carries out the
will of his superior.

BOATSWAIN-BIRD. _Phaethon aethereus_, a tropical bird, so called from its
sort of whistle. It is distinguished by two long feathers in the tail,
called the marling-spike.

BOATSWAIN-CAPTAIN. An epithet given by certain popinjays in the service
to such of their betters as fully understand the various duties of their
station.

BOATSWAIN'S MATE. Is an assistant to the boatswain, who had the peculiar
command of the long-boat. He summons the watch or crew by his whistle,
and during his watch looks to the decks, and has peculiar calls for
"grog," "'bout ship," "pipe to breakfast," "sweepers," &c.

BOATSWAIN'S STORE-ROOM. Built expressly for boatswain's stores, on a
platform or light deck.

BOATSWAIN'S YEOMAN. _See_ YEOMAN.

BOAT THE ANCHOR. Place the anchor in-board in the boat.

BOAT THE OARS. Put them in their proper places fore and aft on the
thwarts ready for use.

BOB. A knot of worms on a string, used in fishing for eels; also
colloquially, it means a berth.--_Shift your bob_, to move about, to
dodge, to fish.--_Bear a bob_, make haste, be brisk.

BOB. The ball or balance-weight of a clock's pendulum; the weight
attached to the plumb-line.

BOBBERY. A disturbance, row, or squabble; a term much used in the East
Indies and China.

BOBBING. A particular method of fishing for eels--

"His hook he bated with a dragon's tail,
And sat upon a rock, and bobb'd for whale."

BOBBING ABOUT. Heaving and setting without making any way.

BOBBLE. The state of waves when dashing about without any regular set or
direction, as in cross tides or currents.

BOBSTAY-COLLARS. These are made with large rope, and an eye spliced in
each end; they are secured round the bowsprit, on the upper side, with a
rose lashing. They are almost entirely superseded by iron bands.

BOBSTAY-HOLES. Those cut through the fore-part of the knee of the head,
between the cheeks, for the admission of the bobstay; they are not much
used now, as chain bobstays are almost universal, which are secured to
plates by shackles.

BOBSTAY-PLATES. Iron plates by which the lower end of the bobstay is
attached to the stem.

BOBSTAYS. Ropes or chains used to confine the bowsprit downward to the
stem or cut-water. They are fitted in various ways. Their use is to
counteract the strain of the foremast-stays, which draw it upw