deck planking (dekplang king)

Planking cut suitably for forming the deck of a ve el. Two Maids of Moreclacke (1609). deck-plate (dek' plāt), n. A metallic plate placed about the smoke-stack or the furnace of a marine engine, to protect the wood of the Whiles he thought to steal the single ten, The king was slyly finger'd from the deck. Shak., 3 Hen. VI., v. 1. Cold deck, a pack of cards a orted or arranged in a known way. [Gamblers' slang.] - Officer of the deck. See officer. On deck, on hand; ready for action or duty; hence, in base - ball, next at the bat; having the right or privilege of batting next. - To clear the decks, to prepare a ship of war for action. - To sweep the deck or the decks. (a) To dash violently over or along the deck of a ve el, as a great wave or the fire of an enemy's guns, carrying everything before it. (b) To command every part of deck, as with small arms, from the tops of tacking ve el. (c) To take off or carry away all the stakes on a card-table; hence, generally, to gain everything.