FID

A short bar of wood or iron put through the heel or lower part of a topmast, and resting by its ends on the trestle-trees, and on which the mast is therefore supported. When the topmast is to be got down, it is first lifted to take the pre ure off the fid. which is then withdrawn. FID, or SPLICING FID, is also a sharp cone of wood for opening the strands of rope. [s. 462]