in sea-language, denotes a level ground lying at a small depth under the surface of the sea, and is also called a shoal or shallow.

Flat-bottomed Boats are such as are made to swim in shallow water, and to carry a great number of troops, artillery, ammunition, &c. They are constructed with a 12 pounder, bow-chafe, and an 18 pounder, stern-chafe; their keel is from 90 to 100 feet, and from 12 to 24 feet beam: they have one mast, a large square main-fail, and a jib-fail; are rowed by 18 or 20 oars, and can carry 400 men each. The gun takes up one bow, and a bridge the other, over which the troops are to march. Those that carry horses have the fore-part of the boat made to open when the men are to mount and ride over a bridge.