DOCK, in maritime affairs, a sort of broad and deep trench formed on the side of a harbour, or on the banks of a river; and commodiously fitted either to build ships or receive them to be repaired and breamed therein. These sort of docks have generally strong flood-gates to prevent the flux of the tide from entering the dock while the ship is under repair.—There are likewise docks of another kind, called wet docks, where a ship can only be cleaned during the recess of the tide, or in the interval between the time when the tide left her dry aground, and the period when it again reaches her by the return of the flood. Docks of the latter kind are not furnished with the usual flood-gates. See the article DOCK, SUPPLEMENT.