BOARD AND BOARD. Alongside, as when two ships touch each other.
BOARDERS. Sailors appointed to make an attack by boarding, or to repel such attempt from the enemy. Four men selected from each gun were generally allotted as boarders, also to trim sails, tend pumps, repair rigging, &c.
BOARD HIM. A colloquialism for I'll ask, demand, or accost him. Hence Shakspeare makes Polonius say of Hamlet,
BOARD HIM IN THE SMOKE. To take a person by surprise, as by firing a broadside, and boarding in the smoke.
BOARDING. An assault made by one vessel on another, by entering her in battle with a detachment of armed men.
BOARDING-BOOK. A register which has for its object the recording all particulars relative to every ship boarded, a copy of which is transmitted to the admiral under whose orders the ship is employed. (_See_ GUARD-BOOK.)
BOARDING-NETTINGS. A framework of stout rope-netting placed where necessary, to obstruct an enemy's boarders.
BOARDING-PIKE. A defensive lance against boarders.
BOARDLINGS. Flippant understrappers of the admiralty and navy-boards.
BOARD OF TRADE. A committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of commercial matters.
BOAT. A small open vessel, conducted on the water by rowing or sailing. The construction, machinery, and even the names of boats, are very different, according to the various purposes for which they are calculated, and the services on which they are employed. Thus we have the long-boat and the jolly-boat, life-boat and gun-boat, but they will appear under their respective appellations.--_A bold boat_, one that will endure a rough sea well.--_Man the boat_, send the crew in to row and manage it.
BOATABLE. Water navigable for boats and small river-craft.
BOAT-BUOYS. Means added to increase the buoyancy of life-boats, &c.
BOAT-CHOCKS. Clamps of wood upon which a boat rests when stowed on a vessel's deck.
BOAT-CLOAK. A mantle for the officer going on duty; when left in the boat it is in the coxswain's charge.
BOAT-DAVIT. A curved piece of timber with a sheave at its outer end, which projects over the boat's stern, while the inner end is shipped into a cleat on each side of the bottom of the boat, for weighing anchors when needed. (_See_ DAVIT.)