Sloop

in nayal affairs, a small ve el, furnished with one mast, the main sail of which is attached to a gaff above, to the mast on its foremost edge, and to a boom below; it differs from a cutter by having a fixed steering bow- ‘sprit and a jib-stay: the sails also are le in proportion to the size of the ve el. Sloops of war are ve els commanded by officers in a middle rank between a lieutenant and a post captain: these are styled masters and commanders. ‘They carry from ten to eighteen guns, and are variously rigged as ships, brigs, schooners, and sometimes cutters. Z’o