certain pieces of timber, formed like the frustum of a cone, and used to stop the haule-holes and the breaches made in the body of a ship by cannon-balls; the former of which are called haule-plugs, and the latter shot-plugs, which are formed of various sizes in proportion to the holes made by the different sizes of shot, which may penetrate the ship's sides or bottom in battle; accordingly they are always ready for this purpose.