http://www.wordnik.com/lists/prosie-the-launch-of-the-i-mauretania-i-described-in-i-the-only-way-to-cross-i.xml by John Maxtone-Graham. Tons of interesting-sounding words, half of which I cannot comprehend on their own, but which together conjure an unmistakable image of naval architecture and shipyard activity. <br /> <br />"The Mauretania was <a href="/words/poised">poised</a>, ready for her <a href="/words/majestic">majestic</a> entry into the Tyne. There were still men under the <a href="/words/bilges">bilges</a> and the <a href="/words/thump">thump</a> and clatter of their <a href="/words/hammers">hammers</a> continued right up to the last. The entire <a href="/words/timbered">timbered</a> <a href="/words/substructure">substructure</a>, taking the full weight of sixteen thousand tons of steel <a href="/words/hull">hull</a>, creaked and groaned alarmingly. Then the Duchess was asked to turn the miniature <a href="/words/capstan">capstan</a>. There was an appalling crash as the giant <a href="/words/steel triggers">steel triggers</a> dropped from their retaining slots on the moving ways. For an instant, nothing gave. Swan was seen to raise his hand, as though to signal the engineers standing by <a href="/words/hydraulic">hydraulic</a> rams to assist with a nudge. But he was caught in mid-gesture as the electric bell shrilled joyously and the immense rivet-studded wall began to move. The Duchess christened her hastily "Mauretania!" and flung the bottle of champagne at the receding stern, where it <a href="/words/splintered">splintered</a> and <a href="/words/foamed">foamed</a>. The only injury of the afternoon was sustained by a workman below, struck on the head by a piece of broken glass. <br /> <br /> Down she went, cracking and squealing. Now the rivercraft saluted with a deafening chorus of whistles and sirens. First the rudder, then the propellers and finally the graceful counter thrust into the Tyne, sending up twin sheets of water, the <a href="/words/naissance">naissance</a> of a tidal wave that soaked watchers lining the opposite shore. As she entered her natural element, the first <a href="/words/buoyant">buoyant</a> lift raised up the midships hull and the <a href="/words/fore-poppet">fore-poppet</a> under the bows took on the added weight. Exactly as designed, portions of it crumbled into a splintery cushion. Pine screamed against oak in dreadful conflict on ways already stripped clean of their lubricants. <br /> <br /> As she passed down the ways, opposing banks of spectators suddenly were revealed to each other. They joined their cheers with those of the workers who rose from between the ways over which the Mauretania had just traveled, caps off and cheering "as only hearty British Workmen know how to cheer," a local paper <a href="/words/exulted">exulted</a> the following day. The band, music forgotten, shook their instruments in schoolboy glee. Over the launch platform rippled a sea of glistening, waving toppers. <br /> <br /> Moving at fourteen <a href="/words/knot">knot</a>s, the bows dropped from the land. The union jack at the <a href="/words/masthead">masthead</a> dipped in frantic salute and the riding crews clutched the rail as the stem plunged down. Another wave lashed back up the berth. The hull recovered and then the <a href="/words/tricing line">tricing line</a>s took up the vital business of arresting that backward rush. In successive pairs, the piles of <a href="/words/drag chain">drag chain</a> leapt into life, snaking and roaring along the edge of the <a href="/words/berth">berth</a> in pursuit of their charge, driving up monstrous divots and clouds of dust. The <a href="/words/stern cable">stern cable</a> <a href="/words/tautened">tautened</a> on cue and a fleet of six tugs left off their salutes long enough to harry their giant sister to a stop. From across the Tyne, even high on the hills, it was the steam from the tugs and ferries that finally obscured the glistening white hull as she floated, unnaturally light, riding higher out of the water than she ever would again. But the sense of particular ceremony that is a launch, the combination of <a href="/words/engineering">engineering</a> miracle, opening night and stupendous passage, was complete: in the roiled muddy Tyne, cluttered with chain and timbers, the Mauretania was <a href="/words/afloat">afloat</a> at last." http://www.wordnik.com http://www.wordnik.com/words/afloat Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:55:43 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/afloat http://www.wordnik.com/words/tautened Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:55:39 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/tautened http://www.wordnik.com/words/stern cable Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:55:35 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/stern cable http://www.wordnik.com/words/drag chain Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:55:29 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/drag chain http://www.wordnik.com/words/caps off Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:55:26 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/caps off http://www.wordnik.com/words/launch platform Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:55:22 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/launch platform http://www.wordnik.com/words/weight Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:55:00 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/weight http://www.wordnik.com/words/champagne Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:54:57 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/champagne http://www.wordnik.com/words/duchess Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:40:24 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/duchess http://www.wordnik.com/words/electric bell Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:40:16 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/electric bell http://www.wordnik.com/words/sirens Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:40:11 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/sirens http://www.wordnik.com/words/whistles Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:39:56 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/whistles http://www.wordnik.com/words/cheering Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:39:51 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/cheering http://www.wordnik.com/words/triggers Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:39:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/triggers http://www.wordnik.com/words/substructure Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:39:08 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/substructure http://www.wordnik.com/words/hammers Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:39:04 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/hammers http://www.wordnik.com/words/bilges Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:38:49 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/bilges http://www.wordnik.com/words/high tide Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:38:25 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/high tide http://www.wordnik.com/words/promenade Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:38:20 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/promenade http://www.wordnik.com/words/maul Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:38:14 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/maul http://www.wordnik.com/words/battering ram Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:38:03 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/battering ram http://www.wordnik.com/words/motor Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:37:55 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/motor http://www.wordnik.com/words/funnel Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:37:51 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/funnel http://www.wordnik.com/words/blue ribband Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:37:38 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/blue ribband http://www.wordnik.com/words/speed title of the atlantic Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:37:31 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/speed title of the atlantic http://www.wordnik.com/words/steel blades Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:37:19 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/steel blades http://www.wordnik.com/words/slipway Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:37:11 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/slipway http://www.wordnik.com/words/setting up Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:36:55 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/setting up http://www.wordnik.com/words/irrevocable Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:36:46 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/irrevocable http://www.wordnik.com/words/bell Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:35:14 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/bell http://www.wordnik.com/words/trip switch Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:35:05 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/trip switch http://www.wordnik.com/words/stress gauge Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:35:01 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/stress gauge http://www.wordnik.com/words/sledge Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:34:51 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/sledge http://www.wordnik.com/words/rudder Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:34:39 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/rudder http://www.wordnik.com/words/emblazoned Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:34:35 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/emblazoned http://www.wordnik.com/words/masthead Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:34:23 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/masthead http://www.wordnik.com/words/launch Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:34:18 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/launch http://www.wordnik.com/words/hydraulic Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:34:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/hydraulic http://www.wordnik.com/words/capstan Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:34:11 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/capstan http://www.wordnik.com/words/buoyed Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:34:00 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/buoyed http://www.wordnik.com/words/stack Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:33:54 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/stack http://www.wordnik.com/words/tug Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:33:51 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/tug http://www.wordnik.com/words/tricing line Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:33:46 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/tricing line http://www.wordnik.com/words/padeye Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:33:41 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/padeye http://www.wordnik.com/words/triced loop Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:33:32 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/triced loop http://www.wordnik.com/words/wire rope Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:33:27 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wire rope http://www.wordnik.com/words/shackle Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:33:23 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/shackle http://www.wordnik.com/words/cabinetry Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:33:03 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/cabinetry http://www.wordnik.com/words/inboard propeller Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:58 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/inboard propeller http://www.wordnik.com/words/after-poppet Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:52 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/after-poppet http://www.wordnik.com/words/capsize Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:47 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/capsize http://www.wordnik.com/words/midlaunch Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:44 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/midlaunch http://www.wordnik.com/words/tie rods Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:36 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/tie rods http://www.wordnik.com/words/timber balks Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:32 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/timber balks http://www.wordnik.com/words/fore-poppet Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:27 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/fore-poppet http://www.wordnik.com/words/poppet Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:22 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/poppet http://www.wordnik.com/words/keel blocks Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:17 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/keel blocks http://www.wordnik.com/words/wedges Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:10 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wedges http://www.wordnik.com/words/soft black soap Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:32:03 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/soft black soap http://www.wordnik.com/words/hot tallow Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:58 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/hot tallow http://www.wordnik.com/words/bearing surface Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:54 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/bearing surface http://www.wordnik.com/words/moving ways Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:47 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/moving ways http://www.wordnik.com/words/fixed ways Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:43 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/fixed ways http://www.wordnik.com/words/steelworkers Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:35 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/steelworkers http://www.wordnik.com/words/quarters Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:30 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/quarters http://www.wordnik.com/words/ways Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:21 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/ways http://www.wordnik.com/words/cradle Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:18 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/cradle http://www.wordnik.com/words/joiners Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/joiners http://www.wordnik.com/words/blocks Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:12 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/blocks http://www.wordnik.com/words/central boss Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:06 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/central boss http://www.wordnik.com/words/blade Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:31:01 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/blade http://www.wordnik.com/words/anchor cable Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:51 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/anchor cable http://www.wordnik.com/words/tail shaft Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:39 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/tail shaft http://www.wordnik.com/words/frame Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:36 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/frame http://www.wordnik.com/words/casting Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:33 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/casting http://www.wordnik.com/words/porthole Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:28 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/porthole http://www.wordnik.com/words/steel bit Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:25 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/steel bit http://www.wordnik.com/words/strake Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:18 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/strake http://www.wordnik.com/words/water line Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/water line http://www.wordnik.com/words/midships Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:30:11 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/midships http://www.wordnik.com/words/tumblehome Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:57 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/tumblehome http://www.wordnik.com/words/elevator Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:52 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/elevator http://www.wordnik.com/words/spine Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:50 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/spine http://www.wordnik.com/words/rib Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:47 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/rib http://www.wordnik.com/words/steel plate Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:45 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/steel plate http://www.wordnik.com/words/hose Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:41 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/hose http://www.wordnik.com/words/clutter Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:38 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/clutter http://www.wordnik.com/words/yard Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:34 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/yard http://www.wordnik.com/words/giant Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:31 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/giant http://www.wordnik.com/words/unprecedented Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:26 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/unprecedented http://www.wordnik.com/words/knot Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:19 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/knot http://www.wordnik.com/words/merchantman Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:29:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/merchantman http://www.wordnik.com/words/rigging Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:28:56 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/rigging http://www.wordnik.com/words/casemate Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:28:53 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/casemate http://www.wordnik.com/words/signal flag Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:28:48 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/signal flag http://www.wordnik.com/words/bulge Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:28:41 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/bulge http://www.wordnik.com/words/freeboard Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:28:34 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/freeboard http://www.wordnik.com/words/squadron Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:28:28 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/squadron http://www.wordnik.com/words/propeller Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:28:13 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/propeller http://www.wordnik.com/words/gross weight Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:28:09 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/gross weight