The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #48959 Message #3210767
Posted By: Jim Carroll
22-Aug-11 - 06:17 AM
Thread Name: South Australia:What the hell's a 'Rolling King'?
Subject: RE: What the hell's a 'Rolling King'?
I'm sure th answer is here somewhere From 'The Sailors' Word Book a classic source for 14,000 nautical and naval terms' by Admiral W.H. Smyth - London 1867 Jim Carroll
ROLLER. A mighty oceanic swell said to precurse the northers of the Atlantic, and felt in great violence at Tristan d'Acunha, where H.M.S. Lily foundered with all hands in consequence, and several vessels at St. Helena have been driven from their anchors and wrecked. These waves roll in from the north, and do not break till they reach soundings, when they evince terrific power, rising from 5 to 15 feet above the usual level of the waters. A connection with volcanoes has been suggested as a cause.
ROLLERS. Cylindrical pieces of timber, fixed either horizontally or ver¬tically in different parts of a ship above the deck, so as to revolve on an axis, and prevent the cables, hawsers, and running rigging from being chafed, by lessening their friction. The same as friction roller. Also, movable pieces of wood of the same figure, which are occasionally j^laced under boats, pieces of heavy timber, &c.
ROLLING. That oscillatory motion by which the waves rock a ship from side to side. The larger part of this disturbance is owing to the depth of the centre of gravity below the centre of figure, the former exercising a violent re-action when disturbed from its rest by passing seas; therefore it is diminished by raising the weights, and must by no means be con¬founded with heeling.
ROLLING-CHOCK, OR JAW-PIECE. Similar to that of a gaff, fastened to the middle of an upper yard, to steady it.
ROLLING-CLEAT. Synonymous with rolling-chock.
ROLLING DOWN TO ST. HELENA. Running with a flowing sheet by the trade-wind.
ROLLING-HITCH. Pass the end of a rope round a spar or rope; take it round a second time, riding the standing part; then cany it across, and up through the bight.
ROLLING-SWELL. That heaving of the sea where the waves are very distant, forming deep troughs between.
ROLLING-TACKLES. Used to prevent the yards from swaying to and fro under heavy rolling motion.