Thus 'grain,' in the naval sense, might easily mean the space enclosed by the planks of a ship where they spring from the stem, or if it is not actually the equivalent of 'bows,' it may mean the diverging waves thrown up by a ship advancing through the water, and thus be the exact analogue of 'wake.' [13] 1654, 'to make sail and endeavour.' [14] 1654, 'Fore topmast.' [15] 1654, 'jack.' [16] 1654, 'wake or grain.' [17] 1654, 'more than ordinarily careful of.' [18] It should be remembered that 'frigate' at this time meant a 'frigate-built ship.' The larger ones were 'capital ships' and lay in the line, while the smaller ones were used as cruisers.
[19] Inserted from 1654 copy..