| 释义 |
harpings, n. pl. Naut.|ˈhɑːpɪŋz|
Also 7 harping, 8–9 harpins, harpens.
[? f. harp n.]
1. a. The fore-parts of the wales which encompass the bow of a ship and are fastened to the stem, being thicker than the after-parts in order to sustain the shock of plunging into the sea. b. Pieces of oak, forming an extension of the ribbands, for holding the cant-frames of a vessel in place until the outside planking is worked.
1658Phillips, Harpings, the breadth of a ship at the bow. 1664E. Bushnell Compl. Shipwright 14 The Sweep of the Harping. 1711W. Sutherland Shipbuild. Assist. 53 The Channel-wales, which are crooked, call'd Harpings. 1869E. J. Reed Shipbuild. xx. 432 Before any frames are hoisted staging is erected at the topsides, and the sheer or gunwale harpins are suspended from it. 1879Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 190/1 The timbers are secured by means of a longitudinal ‘harpin’ or ‘ribband’ wrought along under the floors and secured to them.
2. cat-harpings: the ropes or (now more generally) iron cramps that serve to brace in the shrouds of the lower-masts behind their respective yards, so as to tighten the shrouds and also give more room to draw the yards in when the ship is close-hauled. Also cat-harping legs.
1626Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 15. 1627 ― Seaman's Gram. v. 21 Cat harpings are small ropes runne in little blockes from one side of the ship to the other, neere the vpper decke to keepe the shrouds tight for the more safety of the mast from rowling. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Catharpin Fashion, when People in Company Drink cross, and not..according to the Sun's motion. 1779Cooper in Phil. Trans. LXIX. 161 We saw one of our best seamen hanging by his feet in the main catharpins struck dead. 1833Marryat P. Simple vii, The midshipman told me these were called the cat-harpings, because they were so difficult to climb, that a cat would expostulate if ordered to go out by them. |