Bilge

Bilge

:for|the 8th century Khan of the Gokturks|Bilge KhanThe bilge is the lowest compartment on a ship where the two sides meet. [ [http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-bilge.htm What is a Bilge? ] ] The word was first coined in 1523.

The word is sometimes also used to describe the water that collects in this compartment. Water that does not drain off the side of the deck drains down through the ship into the bilge. This water may be from rough seas, rain, or minor leaks in the hull or stuffing box. The water that collects in the bilge must be pumped out if it becomes too full and threatens to sink the ship.

Bilge water can be found aboard every vessel. Depending on the ship's design and function, bilge water may contain water, oil, urine, detergents, solvents, chemicals, pitch, particles, and so forth.

By housing water in a compartment, it keeps it beneath the decks, making it safer for the crew to operate the vessel and for people to move around in strong weather.

The development of bilge pumps went from buckets, to hand pumps, and now electric bilge pumps are available for even small vessels. Bilge coatings are applied to protect the surfaces. The water is often noxious, and "bilge water" is a derogatory term often used colloquially to refer to something bad, ruined, or fouled.

A feature of the bilge is the swash plate, which serves to dampen the rush of water from side to side, which might destabilize the ship if allowed to run freely. The swash plates run fore and aft and have small openings near the bottom where the water is allowed to run through.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bilge — Bilge, n. [A different orthography of bulge, of same origin as belly. Cf. {Belly}, {Bulge}.] 1. The protuberant part of a cask, which is usually in the middle. [1913 Webster] 2. (Naut.) That part of a ship s hull or bottom which is broadest and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bilge — (b[i^]lj), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Bilged} (b[i^]ljd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Bilging}.] 1. (Naut.) To suffer a fracture in the bilge; to spring a leak by a fracture in the bilge. [1913 Webster] 2. To bulge. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bilge — Bilge, v. t. 1. (Naut.) To fracture the bilge of, or stave in the bottom of (a ship or other vessel). [1913 Webster] 2. To cause to bulge. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bilge — bilge, hakim; akıllı, bilgin, alim 51. 88, 207, 385, 388, 419. 428; III, 45, 46, 59, 137,155,158, 212, 303, 370, 380, 440 § bilge beg; bilgin, ak ıllı ve hakim bey I …   Divan-i Luqat-i it-Türk Dizini

  • Bilge — Bilge, der am tiefsten gelegene Teil des Schiffsraumes, in dem sich Leck bezw. Schwitzwasser, das Bilgewasser, sammelt. Bei Schiffen ohne Innenboden liegt daher die Bilge über dem Kiel, bei Schiffen mit Doppelboden unmittelbar über dem Innenboden …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • Bilge — Sf Kielraum, in dem sich Leckwasser sammelt per. Wortschatz fach. (19. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus ne. bilge, das seinerseits aus frz. bouge (älter boulge) stammt. englisch e …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • bilge — bilge; bilge·board; …   English syllables

  • bilge — ► NOUN 1) the area on the outer surface of a ship s hull where the bottom curves to meet the vertical sides. 2) (bilges) the lowest internal portion of the hull. 3) (also bilge water) dirty water that collects inside the bilges. 4) informal… …   English terms dictionary

  • bilge — [bilj] n. [var. of BULGE] 1. the bulge of a barrel or cask 2. the rounded, lower exterior part of a ship s hull 3. a) [also pl.] the bottommost interior part of a ship b) water that seeps or leaks in, collects there, and becomes stagnant and… …   English World dictionary

  • Bilge — (Bilsch, Pumpensod), bei Schiffen ohne Doppelboden der Raum über den Kielplatten, bei solchen mit Doppelboden der Raum über dem innern Boden. Hier sammelt sich unreines Wasser (Bilgewasser, Bilschwasser) an, das für die Schiffshygiene (s. d.) von …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Bilge — Bilge, unterste Höhlung des Schiffsrumpfes oberhalb des Kiels, in dem sich das Leckwasser (Bilgewasser) sammelt …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”