Z

Zulu, in the International Code of Signals (ICS) it means: "I require a tug."

By fishing vessels near fishing grounds: "I am shooting nets."

Z-BAR, ZED BAR. Rolled steel section of Z-shape, but with right angles.

ZAFAR. A coil of Spanish rope.

ZAMBO. A term on the Spanish Main for a race produced by the union of the negro and the Indian; it literally means bow-legged.

ZEAL. A quality essentially requisite in forming the character of an efficient officer, since it comprehends ardour for the service, prompt obedience to orders, cheerful disposition, and a studious application to professional science.

ZECCHINO [from zecca, a mint]. A gold coin of Italy; average value, 9_s. 6_d. ZECHIN. A Turkish coin. (See SEQUIN.)

ZENITH (MAGNETIC). That point in heavens indicated by a line passing longitudinally through a freely-suspended magnetic needle.

ZENITH DISTANCE. The angular distance of any celestial object from the zenith at the time of observation. In navigation the meridional zenith-distance of a heavenly body is much used for finding the latitude.

ZENITH PARALLEL. Small circle of celestial sphere, parallel to horizon and passing through all points having the same zenith distance.

ZENITH SECTOR. Astronomical telescope that is weighted and pivoted, and fitted with an attachment for determining the true vertical. Used for measuring zenith distances.

ZENITH. The pole of the horizon, or that point in the heavens directly overhead, as nadir is that which is directly under our feet.

ZENITHAL PROJECTION. Projection of surface of a sphere by lines from centre to a plane that is tangent at the zenith.

ZEPHYR. A warm, light westerly breeze.

ZEPHYR. The west wind, but generally considered to apply to any light pleasant breeze.

ZERO. The cypher or nought at the beginning of a graduated arc. That point, in a scale, that is supposed to have no value, and from which the values of other points are reckoned. On one side of zero the values will be positive and negative on the other side.

ZETETIC. The analytic method of investigating a mathematical problem.

ZIG-ZAG CLOCK. Clock fitted for use when zigzagging. Special mechanism is incorporated to ring a bell when a course has been steered for a pre-arranged time.

ZIG-ZAG COURSE. Working to windward by very short tacks or angular turning boards.

ZIG-ZAG SAILING. Sailing on alternate tacks

ZIG-ZAG. The winding trench of approach of a besieger, directed by short turns alternately right and left of the defences of the place, to avoid being enfiladed by them. Called also a boyau.

ZINC PROTECTOR. Slab of zinc attached to underwater body of a ship to prevent steei of hull becoming electro positive to copper or copper alloy fittings exposed to salt water. Galvanic action breaks down zinc slabs, which is renewable. See 'Cathodic Protection'.

ZODIAC. A broad zone or belt of the heavens, the middle of which is the ecliptic, extending 9° on either side of it. It is divided into twelve signs, each measuring 30° along the ecliptic.

ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS. Those constellations lying in a zone about 20° on either side of Ecliptic, and from which the Signs of the Zodiac take their names. The signs do not now agree with the constellations of the same names; this being due to precession of the equinoxes.

ZODIACAL LIGHT. A pyramidal cone of light, apparently emanating from the rising and setting sun, commonly seen in the tropics; in higher latitudes most visible about the time of the equinoxes.

ZOLL, OR SAUL. An Indian timber, much used in the construction of country vessels. ZONE. See BELT.

ZONE OF DECLINATION. A belt of the heavens included between certain parallels of declination.

ZONE OF SILENCE. Area in which a sound is inaudible although it may be heard all round the area. The cause of it is not known. Quite frequently noticed in connection with fog signals of lighthouses.

ZONE TIME. Time kept at sea for official purposes. Sea areas are divided into sectors (termed 'zones') that extend 7.5° on either side of the prime meridian, and of all meridians of 15° or a multiple of it. Each zone keeps a time that is one hour different from the zone on either side of it. Each zone, therefore, has a time that is an integral number of hours different from Greenwich Mean Time, and the zone is named by this number. Easterly zones prefix a minus sign, westerly zones prefix a plus sign, to the zone number. The zone number, when applied to the zone time, and using its prefixed sign, will give Greenwich Mean Time. Zone + 12 and zone - 12 meet at the Date Line.

ZONE. Area between two parallel circles of a sphere. In a more general sense, it may mean an area on the surface of a sphere. See 'Seasonal Zones'.

ZONES, IN GEOGRAPHY, are longitudinal belts into which the surface of the earth is divided, according to their various relation to the sun's apparent motion. They are—the torrid or equatorial zone, bounded by the two tropics (which see), to every part of which, at some time or other, the sun is vertical; the frigid zones, from the poles to the polar circles, to every part of which in succession, periodically, the sun is at mid-day below the horizon; and the temperate zones, intermediate between the two former, to all of which the sun rises every day in the year.

ZOOPHYTE. A term compounded of two Greek words, signifying animal-plant, vaguely applied to various low forms of animal organizations, as the sea-anemones and coral animals, which present a certain superficial resemblance to plants.

ZOPISSA. Tar or pitch scraped off the bottoms of old ships, and thought to be astringent and good for ulcers. Also, a highly preservative varnish in use by the ancients for ships' bottoms, sarcophagi, &c.

ZUBENESCH. Old name for star a Lyrae.

ZUGITES. The middle tier of oarsmen in an ancient Greek trireme.

ZUHN. A species of Indian rush, from which an inferior kind of cordage and canvas is made.

ZULU. Zulu Time Zone (Z) has no offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This time zone is a military time zone. Scottish east coast fishing vessel.

ZUMBRA. A Spanish skiff or yawl.

ZYGAENA. The genus to which the hammer-headed shark (Zygaena malleus) belongs.

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