FID

A short bar of wood or iron put through the heel or lower part of a topmast, and resting by its ends >>n the trestletrees, 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 When the topmast is to be got down, it is first lifted to take the pre ure oil'the fid, which is llien withdrawn. I'll), or SPLICING FID, is also a sharp cone of wood for opening the strands of rope. [s. 467]