, or with the wind right astern. It is said also of a
half-drunken sailor rolling along with his hands in his pockets and
elbows square.

BOTTE. An old English term for boat, and assuredly the damaged boat into
which Prospero is turned adrift by Shakspeare.

BOTTLE-BUMP. The bittern, so called on our east coast.

BOTTLE-CHARTS. Those on which the set of surface currents are exhibited,
derived from papers found in bottles which have been thrown overboard
for that purpose, and washed up on the beach, or picked up by other
ships.

BOTTLE-NOSE, OR BOTTLE-NOSED WHALE. A name applied to several of the
smaller cetaceans of the northern seas, more especially to the
_Hyperoodon rostratus_.

BOTTOM. A name for rich low land formed by alluvial deposits: but in a
general sense it denotes the lowest part of a thing, in
contradistinction to the top or uppermost part. In navigation, it is
used to denote as well the channel of rivers and harbours as the body or
hull of a ship. Thus, in the former sense we say "a gravelly bottom,
clayey bottom," &c., and in the latter sense "a British bottom, a Dutch
bottom," &c. By statute, certain commodities imported in foreign bottoms
pay a duty called "petty customs," over and above what they are liable
to if imported in British bottoms. Bottom of a ship or boat is that part
which is below the wales.

BOTTOM-CLEAN. Thoroughly clean, free from weeds, &c.

BOTTOM-PLANK. That which is placed between the garboard-strake and lower
back-strake.

BOTTOMREE, OR BOTTOMRY-BOND. The contract of bottomry is a negotiable
instrument, which may be put in suit by the person to whom it is
transferred: it is in use in all countries of maritime commerce and
interests. A contract in the nature of a mortgage of a ship, when the
owner of it borrows money to enable him to carry on the voyage, and
pledge the keel, or bottom of the ship, as a security for the repayment.
If the ship be lost the lender also loses his whole money; but if it
return in safety then he shall receive back his principal, and also the
premium stipulated to be paid, however it may exceed the usual or legal
rate of interest. The affair is, however, only regarded as valid upon
the ground of necessity; and thus exacting more than the interest
allowed by law is not deemed usury.

BOTTOMRY PREMIUM. A high rate of interest charged on the safety of the
ship--the lender losing his whole money if she be lost.

BOTTOM-WIND. A phenomenon that occur