ANKER-FISH. A name of a kind of cuttle-fish.
ANKLE-BONE. An old seaman's term for the crawfish.
ANNELIDS. A class of worm-like animals, of which the body is composed of a series of rings.
ANNET. A sea-gull, well known in Northumberland and on the northern coasts.
ANNIVERSARY WINDS. Those which blow constantly at certain seasons of the year, as monsoon, trade, and etesian winds.
ANNONA. An ancient tax for the yearly supply of corn or provisions for the army and capital: still in use in Italy.
ANNOTINÆ. The ancient Roman victuallers or provision vessels.
ANNOTTO (_Bixa orellana_). The plant from the dried pulp of the seed-vessels of which a delicate red dye is obtained, used to give a rich colour to milk, butter, and cheese.
ANNUAL. Those astronomical motions which return or terminate every year.
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS. The ship's books and papers for the year.
ANNUAL EQUATION. An inequality in the moon's march, arising from the eccentricity of the earth's orbit, whereby the diurnal motion is sometimes quicker and at other times slower than her mean motion.
ANNUAL RETURNS. In addition to the general accounts of the year, there are three returns to be transmitted to the admiral or senior officer for the Admiralty. They are, a report of the sailing and other qualities of the ship; state of the ship as to men; and progress of the young gentlemen in navigation.
ANNUAL VARIATION. The change produced in the right ascension or declination of a star by the precession of the equinoxes and proper motion of the star taken together. Also, the annual variation of the compass.
ANNULAR. Resembling an annulus or ring. An _annular_ eclipse takes place when the apparent diameter of the moon is less than that of the sun, and a zone of light surrounds the moon while central.
ANNULAR SCUPPER. A contrivance for fitting scuppers so that the whole can be enlarged by a movable concentric ring, in order that a surcharge of water can be freely delivered; invented by Captain Downes, R.N.
ANNULUS. A geometrical figure. (_See_ RING.)
ANNULUS ASTRONOMICUS. A ring of brass used formerly in navigation. In 1575 Martin Frobisher, when fitting out on his first voyage for the discovery of a north-west passage, was supplied with one which cost thirty shillings.