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WABBLE, TO [from the Teutonic _wabelen_] . To reel confusedly, as waves on a windy day in a tide-way. It is a well-known term among mechanics to express the irregular motion of engines or turning-lathes when loose in their bearings, or otherwise out of order. A badly stitched seam in a sail is wabbled. It is also applied to the undulation of the compass-card when the motion of the vessel is considerable and irregular.
WAD . A kind of plug, closely fitting the bore of a gun, which is rammed home over the shot to confine it to its place, and sometimes also between the shot and the cartridge: generally made of coiled junk, otherwise a rope grommet, &c.
WAD-HOOK . An iron tool shaped like a double cork-screw on the end of a long staff, for withdrawing wads or charges from guns; called also a _worm_.
WADE, TO . An Anglo-Saxon word, meaning to pass through water without swimming. In the north, the sun was said to wade when covered by a dense atmosphere.
WADMAREL . A hairy, coarse, dark-coloured stuff of the north, once in great demand for making pea-jackets, pilot-coats, and the like.
WAFT [said to be from the Anglo-Saxon _weft_], more correctly written_wheft_ . It is any flag or ensign, stopped together at the head and middle portions, slightly rolled up lengthwise, and hoisted at different positions at the after-part of a ship. Thus, at the ensign-staff, it signifies that a man has fallen overboard; if no ensign-staff exists, then half-way up the peak. At the peak, it signifies a wish to speak; at the mast-head, recalls boats; or as the commander-in-chief or particular captain may direct.
WAFTORS . Certain officers formerly appointed to guard our coast fisheries. Also, swords blunted to exercise with.
WAGER POLICY . An engagement upon interest or no interest; the performance of the voyage in a reasonable time and manner, and not the bare existence of the ship or cargo, is the object of insurance.
WAGES OR PAY OF THE ROYAL NAVY is settled by act of parliament . In the merchant service seamen are paid by the month, and receive their wages at the end of the voyage.
WAGES REMITTED FROM ABROAD . When a ship on a foreign station has been commissioned twelve calendar months, every petty officer, seaman, and marine serving on board, may remit the half of the pay due to them to a wife, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, or sister.
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