HAMMOCK

The sailors' bed. An oblong piece of hempen cloth: at each end are fastened several small lines, meeting in a grummet or iron ring; these form the clues. The whole, having a mattra and pillow, . placed in it, is hoisted up into its place by small ropes called laniards, between two battens or screws in the beams of the deck over head, about nine feet distant asunder. The hammock is a very agreeable bed, especially in cold weather; but some little practice is requisite at first in getting in and out succe fully. During the day the hammocks, lashed up tight in the form of caterpillars, are stowed in the nettings along the upper edge of the bulwark. [s. 553]