144 THOMPSON'S COAST PILOT. " All hands ahoy!" the call by which all the ship's company is sum- moned upon deck. Aloft; up in the tops, at the mast-heads, or anywhere about the higher rigging. Alongside ; side by side, or joined toa ship, wharf, etc. Along shore; along the coast; a course which is in sight of the shore, and nearly parallel to it. Aloof ; at adistance. Keep aloof ; that is, keep at a distance. Amain; the old term for yield, used by a man-of-war to an enemy; but it now signifies anything done suddenly, or at once, by a number of men. Amidships ; the middle of a ship, either with regard to her length or breadth. Mia 6 Anchor ; the instrument by which a ship is held. The anchor is foul ; that is, the cable has got about the fluke of the anchor. The anchor is a-peak ; that is, directly under the hawse-hole of the ship. The anchor is a-cock-bill; that is, hangs up and down the ship's side. An-end; the position of any mast, etc., when erected perpendicularly on the deck. The top-masts are said to be an-end when they are hoisted up to their usual station. A-peak ; perpendicular to the anchor, the cable having been drawn so tight as to bring the ship directly over it. The anchor is then said to be a-peak. Ashore; on the shore, as opposed to aboard, It also means aground. Astern ; any distance behind a ship, as apposed to ahead. See Bearing. At anchor ; the situation of a ship riding by her anchor. Athwart ; across the line of a ship's course. Athwart hawse ; the situa- tion of a ship when driven by accident across the fore part of another, whether they touch or are at a short distance from each other; the trans- verse position of the former being principally understood. Athwart the fore-foot ; when any object crosses the line of a ship's course, but ahead of her, it is said to be athwart the fore-foot. Athwart-ships; reaching, or in a direction, across the ship from one side to the other. Atrip ; when applied to the anchor, it means that the anchor is drawn out of the ground, and hangs in a perpendicular direction, by the cable or buoy-rope. The topsails are said to be airip when they are hoisted up to the mast head, or to their utmost extent. " Avast /" a term used for Stop/ or Stay! as " Avast heaving!" do not heave any more. Aweigh ; the same as atrip, when applied to the anchor. Awning ; a shelter or screen of canvas, spread over the decks of a ship, to keep off the heat of the sun. Spread the awning; extend it so as to cover the deck. Furl the awning ; that is, roll it up. To Back THE ANCHOR; to carry out a small anchor ahead of the large a a a