What is "nettings"

Usage examples of "nettings".

For a few moments he had clung, kicking to the nettings before another bursting wave had torn him away and carried him screaming down the ship's side.

Without leaning out over the nettings he could picture that double line of guns, with each port filled with watching eyes and a gaping muzzle.

The ship was all but unmarked, and but for the bright splash of blood below the nettings, they could have been at manoeuvres.

A lucky shat must have struck it solidly within some ten feet of the deck, for as Bolitho clung to the nettings to see better he saw stays and shrouds parting like cotton while the whole mast, spars and wildly flapping canvas staggered, swung momentarily enmeshed in the tangle of rigging, before pitching down into the smoke.

It was the leading Frenchman, and when Bolitho leaned across the nettings he saw with cold satisfaction that the next astern was smoking from a dozen holes in her bulwark and gangway where his blind broadside had scared several hits.

Pelham-Martin clung to the nettings as the ship heeled slightly and Gossett said, "Course sou'west, sir!

The blindfolded figure jerked back against the nettings and then fell heavily on the gangway.

Bolitho gripped the nettings as the ship canted over and lifted his head to watch the topmen strung out above the deck, their arms working in fierce unison as more and more canvas bellied out from the yards.

Above him and ranged around the nettings his marines were already swaying in neat lines, their muskets at their sides, their dressing faultless as usual.

As he steadied it against the nettings he saw the enemy ships for the first time.

Blades hacked and flashed above the nettings, and here and there a man would fall kicking into the melee, or be thrown bodily into the sea by the press behind him.

He watched the young acting-lieutenant scramble along the nettings and begin to climb up the shrouds.

Bolitho looked above the tattered hammock nettings and saw the French ship's fore topgallant high above the larboard quarter, moving slowly but surely towards the final contact.

Some more were already cradling their long muskets along the hammock nettings, their faces stiff with concentration.

From the corner of his eye he saw the Argus's topsails lifting above the hammock nettings, her shape shortening as Undine swung round across her bows.