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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Half-deck

Half-deck \Half"-deck`\ (-d[e^]k`), n.

  1. (Zo["o]l.) A shell of the genus Crepidula; a boat shell. See Boat shell.

  2. See Half deck, under Deck.

Half-deck

Deck \Deck\, n. [D. dek. See Deck, v.]

  1. The floorlike covering of the horizontal sections, or compartments, of a ship. Small vessels have only one deck; larger ships have two or three decks. Note: The following are the more common names of the decks of vessels having more than one. Berth deck (Navy), a deck next below the gun deck, where the hammocks of the crew are swung. Boiler deck (River Steamers), the deck on which the boilers are placed. Flush deck, any continuous, unbroken deck from stem to stern. Gun deck (Navy), a deck below the spar deck, on which the ship's guns are carried. If there are two gun decks, the upper one is called the main deck, the lower, the lower gun deck; if there are three, one is called the middle gun deck. Half-deck, that portion of the deck next below the spar deck which is between the mainmast and the cabin. Hurricane deck (River Steamers, etc.), the upper deck, usually a light deck, erected above the frame of the hull. Orlop deck, the deck or part of a deck where the cables are stowed, usually below the water line. Poop deck, the deck forming the roof of a poop or poop cabin, built on the upper deck and extending from the mizzenmast aft. Quarter-deck, the part of the upper deck abaft the mainmast, including the poop deck when there is one. Spar deck.

    1. Same as the upper deck.

    2. Sometimes a light deck fitted over the upper deck.

      Upper deck, the highest deck of the hull, extending from stem to stern.

  2. (arch.) The upper part or top of a mansard roof or curb roof when made nearly flat.

  3. (Railroad) The roof of a passenger car.

  4. A pack or set of playing cards.

    The king was slyly fingered from the deck.
    --Shak.

  5. A heap or store. [Obs.]

    Who . . . hath such trinkets Ready in the deck.
    --Massinger.

  6. (A["e]ronautics) A main a["e]roplane surface, esp. of a biplane or multiplane.

  7. the portion of a bridge which serves as the roadway.

  8. a flat platform adjacent to a house, usually without a roof; -- it is typically used for relaxing out of doors, outdoor cooking, or entertaining guests.

    Between decks. See under Between.

    Deck bridge (Railroad Engineering), a bridge which carries the track upon the upper chords; -- distinguished from a through bridge, which carries the track upon the lower chords, between the girders.

    Deck curb (Arch.), a curb supporting a deck in roof construction.

    Deck floor (Arch.), a floor which serves also as a roof, as of a belfry or balcony.

    Deck hand, a sailor hired to help on the vessel's deck, but not expected to go aloft.

    Deck molding (Arch.), the molded finish of the edge of a deck, making the junction with the lower slope of the roof.

    Deck roof (Arch.), a nearly flat roof which is not surmounted by parapet walls.

    Deck transom (Shipbuilding), the transom into which the deck is framed.

    To clear the decks (Naut.), to remove every unnecessary incumbrance in preparation for battle; to prepare for action.

    To sweep the deck (Card Playing), to clear off all the stakes on the table by winning them.

Usage examples of "half-deck".

Diane, having made her way through the close-clustered Thousand Islands and having crossed the notorious Tulang shoal with three fathoms to spare, was approaching the Banka Strait, Johnstone met Stephen on the half-deck, the one coming, the other going.

Slowly, slowly the connecting rods begin to pick up speed, and the heat from the boiler builds, and more water spills across the heavy-timbered half-deck that holds the engine.

From a sense of duty Jack called out 'Belay, there,' and they belayed, coming aboard as nimbly as cats for a glass of grog, served out on the half-deck.

But when he found the poor brute-beast, pale, frightened, apologetic and put to sit by a lantern on the half-deck, and when he learnt that the grape in question was only one of the nine that made up the charge of the launch's fourpounder, he at once had him seized up by the heels, ran for the stomach-pump and forced a large quantity of tepid salt water tinged with rum into his body, reflecting with pleasure, as among the agonized retching he heard the clang of the ball in the basin, that he had cured his patient not only of probably mortal occlusion but of any taste for spirituous liquors for some time to come.

Jack's dining-cabin was now also his sleeping-cabin, and sometimes Stephen's too, but naval ingenuity made little of stowing the cots and sea-chests on the half-deck, the Marine sentry perpetually on duty at the cabin door being shown how to cover them with a hammock-cloth in case of drifting spray.

Jack, who as usual was making what observations were possible - observations of temperature atvarious depths, salinity, humidity of the air and so on for his friend Humboldt - showed Stephen his sea-chest, which had been brought up on to the half-deck so that the joiner might add an additional till or tray, a very stout chest indeed, that had seen and survived almost every kind of weather the world could offer: but the harmattan had split its lid - a broad cleft from one end to the other.

He came close to her, all perfume-smelling, all clean and fancy lace-front and wool coat, and she backed and held her knife-blacked hands out of the way as her leg hit the half-deck.