Step

A piece or combination of pieces of timber, iron, or steel etc., forming a bed, under the foot of a mast, a bitt, or a stanchion, also a support against the heel of a bowsprit, etc. See the step of a mast Plate 43. 32. f) Stem. The after end of a ship, this term being chiefly applied to the extreme after end of the ve el, vizt: that portion above the counter and abaft the stern-post. The forms are various, but the Square-stern ” once in general use, when only wooden ve els were built, is now usually replaced in wooden Not* • Terms and description common to any ship, whether wood, iron, steel or composite, are distinguished by the mark. (’) as well as in iron and steel ships by „ Elliptical-, or Round-sterns ” See Plates 10. 10, 24.13 & 25. 23.