bear-a-hand

Updated: May 3, 2025

We had a fair wind, which is something unusual when going up, as the prevailing wind is the north, which blows directly down the coast; whence the northern are called the windward, and the southern the leeward ports. ``Bear-a-hand'' is to make haste.

Richard Henry Dana - Two Years Before the Mast

I felt the vessel pitching at her anchor, and the chain surging and snapping, and lay awake, expecting an instant summons. In a few minutes it came three knocks on the scuttle, and "All hands ahoy! bear-a-hand up and make sail." We sprang up for our clothes, and were about halfway dressed, when the mate called out, down the scuttle, "Tumble up here, men! tumble up! before she drags her anchor."

Richard Henry Dana - Two Years Before the Mast

An English lad and myself went up to furl it; and we had just got the bunt up, when the mate called out to us, something, we did not hear what, but supposing it to be an order to bear-a-hand, we hurried, and made all fast, and came down, feeling our way among the rigging.

Richard Henry Dana - Two Years Before the Mast

An English lad and myself went up to furl it; and we had just got the bunt up, when the mate called out to us something, we did not hear what, but, supposing it to be an order to bear-a-hand, we hurried and made all fast, and came down, feeling our way among the rigging.

Richard Henry Dana - Two Years Before the Mast

In a few minutes it came, three knocks on the scuttle, and ``All hands ahoy! bear-a-hand up and make sail. We sprang for our clothes, and were about half dressed, when the mate called out, down the scuttle, ``Tumble up here, men! tumble up! before she drags her anchor. We were on deck in an instant. ``Lay aloft and loose the topsails! shouted the captain, as soon as the first man showed himself.

Richard Henry Dana - Two Years Before the Mast