at sea, a short piece of wood, or a close-hooped barrel, fastened so as to float directly over the anchor, that the men, who go in the boat to weigh the anchor, may know where it lies.

Buoy is also a piece of wood, or cork, sometimes an empty cask, well closed, swimming on the surface of the water, and fastened, by a chain or cord, to a large stone, piece of broken cannon, or the like, serving to mark the dangerous places near a coast, as rocks, shoals, wrecks of vessels, anchors, &c.

There are sometimes, instead of buoys, pieces of wood placed in form of masts, in conspicuous places; and sometimes large trees are planted in a particular manner, in number two at least, to be taken in a right line, the one hiding the other, so as the two may appear to the eye no more than one.

Stream the Buoy is to let the anchor fall while the ship has way.

To buoy up the cable is to fasten some pieces of wood, barrels, &c. to the cable, near the anchor, that the cable may not touch the ground, in case it be foul or rocky, lest it should be fretted and cut off.