e with the
gullet. It is the homologue of the lungs of air-breathing vertebrates.

AIR-BRAVING. Defying the winds.

AIR-CONE, in the marine engine, is to receive the gases which enter the
hot-well from the air-pump, where, after ascending, they escape through
a pipe at the top.

AIRE. A name in our northern islands for a bank of sand.

AIR-FUNNEL. A cavity formed by omission of a timber in the upper works
of a vessel, to admit fresh air into the hold of a ship and convey the
foul out of it.

AIR-GUN. A silent weapon, which propels bullets by the expansive force
of air only.

AIRING-STAGE. A wooden platform, on which gunpowder is aired and dried.

AIR-JACKET. A leathern garment furnished with inflated bladders, to buoy
the wearer up in the water. (_See_ AYR.)

AIR-PIPES. Funnels for clearing ships' holds of foul air, on the
principle of the rarefying power of heat.

AIR-PORTS. Large scuttles in ships' bows for the admission of air, when
the other ports are down. The Americans also call their side-ports by
that name.

AIR-PUMP. An apparatus to remove the water and gases accumulating in the
condenser while the engine is at work.

AIR-SCUTTLES. The same as _air-ports_.

AIR-SHAFTS. Vertical holes made in mining, to supply the adits with
fresh air. Wooden shafts are sometimes adopted on board ship for a
similar purpose.

AIRT, OR ART. A north-country word for a bearing point of the compass or
quarter of the heavens. Thus the song--

"Of a' the _airts_ the wind can blaw,
I dearly love the west."

AIRY. Breezy.

AKEDOWN. A form of the term _acton_, as a defensive dress.

ALABLASTER. An arbalist or cross-bow man; also the corruption of
_alabaster_.

ALAMAK. The name given in nautical astronomy to that beautiful double
star _Anak al ard_ of the Arabians, or {g} Andromedae.

ALAMOTTIE. The _Procellaria pelagica_, or Storm-finch; Mother Cary's
chicken, or stormy petrel.

ALAND. A term formerly used for to the shore, on shore, or to land.

ALARM, ALARUM [from the Italian _all'armi!_] An apprehension from
sudden noise or report. The drum or signal by which men are summoned to
stand on their guard in time of danger.--_False alarm_ is sometimes
occasioned by a timid or negligent sentry, and at others designedly by
an officer, to ascertain the promptness of his men. Sometimes false
alarms are given by the enemy to harass the adversary. Old Rider defines
_alarm_ as a "watch-word shewing the neernes