Ship
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
This word, in its most enlarged sense, signifies a vessel of any kind employed in navigation; for example, the terms the ship's papers, the ship's husband, shipwreck, and the like, are employed whether the vessel referred to be a brig, a sloop, or a three-masted vessel. In a more confined sense, it means such a vessel with three masts; 4 Wash. C. C. R. 530; Wesk. Ins. h. t. p. 514; the boats and rigging; 2 Marsh. Ins. 727; together with the anchors, masts, cables, pullies, and such like objects, are considered as part of the ship. Pard. n.
599.
The capacity of a ship is ascertained by its tonnage, or the space which may be occupied by its cargo. Vide Story's Laws U. S. Index, h. t.; Gordon's Dig. h. t.; Abbott on Ship. Index, h. t.; Park. Ins. Index, h. t.; Phil. Ev. Index, h. t.; 4 Bac. Ab. 741; 3 Kent, Com. 93; Molloy, Jure Mar. Index, h. t.; 1 Chit. Pr. 91; and see General Ship; Names of Ships.