Encyclopedia.com > Encyclopedias, Almanacs, Transcripts, and Maps > The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea > January 2006

budge-barrel

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | 700+ words | Copyright

budge-barrel, the small barrel of gunpowder which, in the days before powder was made up into cartridges, was brought on deck to serve the guns. It held a hundredweight (about 50 kg) of powder and the top end was fitted with a leather flap or bag drawn tight by a string which, when the barrel was brought to the guns, covered the open end to lessen the danger of accidental firing. After the introduction of cartridges, which dates from about 1580, budge-barrels were generally only used in harbour for the purpose of firing salutes. In the US Navy in the early 19th century budge-barrels were used as ready service lockers for powder cartridges and shot for the swivel guns in the fighting tops.

See also powder monkey.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"budge-barrel." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"budge-barrel." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-budgebarrel.html

"budge-barrel." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-budgebarrel.html

Learn more about citation styles

Find thousands of answers for hundreds of subjects at Answers Encyclopedia .

All answers verified by trusted sources at Encyclopedia.com

Try Answers Encyclopedia now!

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: