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| Glossary of Smuggling Terms | |
|---|---|
| Anker | A measure of spirits, roughly 7.5 gallons; half anker 3.5 to 4 gallons |
| Bat | A long wooden stave used as a weapon by smugglers |
| Boatsitter | A chief boatmen in the Preventive Waterguard |
| Coast Blockade | The preventive system in Kent and Sussex, 1817 to 1831 |
| Coastguard | (first called the Coast Guard) The national preventive service established under Capt W Bowles, appointed 1822 |
| Coastwaiter | The Customs officer responsible for vessels from home ports |
| Collector | The head of the Customs personnel at each port |
| Comptroller | The Collector's deputy at the larger ports |
| Cutter | A single-masted vessel, rigged like a sloop but with a running bowsprit |
| Dragoon | A mounted soldier |
| Exciseman | An officer responsible for accessing and collecting Excise Duty |
| Flink Pistol | Used to flask a signal; in appearance like a starting gun |
| Free Trader | A smuggler |
| Galley | A large open rowboat, typically propelled by up to twenty oars |
| Gauger | An Exciseman responsible for measuring spirits and calculating duty |
| Geneva | Gin, also known as Hollands |
| Hanger | A sword |
| Jacobite | A supporter of James II after his abdocation, or of his son |
| Landwaiter | The Customs official who supervised the unloading of ships from foreign ports |
| Lugger | A vessel with four-cornered sails, rigged fore-and-aft |
| Militia | A military unit, sometimes a volunteer unit. Mainly established under Acts of 1757 to 1758, when men were chosen to serve by ballot, but substitutes were allowed |
| Owler | Anyone smuggling wool out of England |
| Preventive Waterguard | Preventive service established in 1809 covering the whole country in three districts; patrols by cutters and small preventive boats |
| Privateer | A privately-owned armed vessel holding a government commission (Letters of Marque) to wage war on enemy ships |
| Riding Officer | Officer in the Customs service appointed to patrol on horseback, initially to counter the owling trade |
| Run | A successful landing of contraband |
| Safe House | An inn or other building providing a recognised refuge for smugglers, usually with storage and stabling |
| Sloop | or Shallop. A small single-masted, fore-and-aft rigged ship |
| Sowing a crop | Sinking a raft of tubs in a marked position offshore |
| Spout lantern | A signalling lantern made to send out a beam of light through a long spout attachment |
| Tap | An unlicenced beer house |
| Tide Surveyor | The Customs officer responsible for rummaging (searching) vessels anchored in port |
| Tub | A wooden cask holding half anker of spirits (3.5 to 4 gallons); often ropes in pairs to be carried over the shoulder |
| Whig | (originally) A member of the political party which supported the revolution of 1688; the party led by Robert Walpole |