rough-tree Naut.
[In earlier use a var. of ruff-tree and roof-tree 2; later also f. rough a.]
(See quot. 1769.)
| 1629 Admiralty Court Exam. 48 Took the rough trees of the shipp and nayled deales upon them and launched them overboard. 1671 Phillips, Rough-trees, in Navigation, are small timbers to bear up the gratings from the half-Deck to the forecastle. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Rough-tree, a name given in merchant-ships to any mast, yard, or boom, placed as a rail or fence above the ship's side, from the quarter-deck to the fore-castle. It is, however, with more propriety, applied to any mast, &c. which remains rough and unfinished. 1846 A. Young Naut. Dict., Rough-Tree, an unfinished spar. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 581 [copying Falconer and Young; hence also in later Dicts.]. |
b. Comb. rough-tree rail, timber (see quots.).
| 1794 Rigging & Seamanship 141 They are extended from the rough-tree-rail of the quarter-deck. c 1860 H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 70 What is meant by the rough-tree rail? It covers the heads of the timbers, and forms the bottom of the hammock netting. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 581 Rough Tree Timber, upright pieces of timber placed at intervals along the side of a vessel, to support the rough-tree. |