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Barometer - An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure. Invented by Galileo, it was first used in weather studies in the XVII century, the aneroid barometer coming into practical use in the late XVIIIth. The term is based on the Greek word for pressure, baros.
Fake - (1) One turn of a coil of rope. (2) A verb, to lay out line or chain on deck, for easy running or inspection. There are different opinions on the term: some say the right word is flake, with which I disagree. both of these words are used, however, and appear to be interchangeable. Fake was seen in the XVII century and probably earlier, as it came from Middle English, faken, coil.
Limejuicer (also Limey) - Our nickname, in sailing ship days and now, for a British ship and her people. Limes and lime juice had been discovered to be a preventive for a common shipboard disease, scurvy; they became a required ration first in British ships, for this purpose.
Sway - A method of applying one's weight to a halyard or other line to get "that extra two inches." The word comes from Middle English, sweghe, to sway, possibly in this sense.
Information is from the book "Origins of Sea Terms" by John G. Rogers
copyright 1985 Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. and available from BlueJacket.
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