dogshore

A ship rests securely on a dogshore in the dry dock.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A supporting timber in shipbuilding: "dogshore" refers to a heavy wooden prop or brace used to support a ship's hull while it is under construction. These supports are removed just before the ship is launched into the water.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The shipwrights carefully removed the dogshores before the vessel slid down the slipway. (The workers took away the supporting timbers that held the hull in place.)
  • A broken dogshore could cause the ship to shift dangerously during construction. (A damaged support timber might lead to an unstable hull.)

Advanced Usage

• "to take out the dogshores": a specific nautical phrase meaning to remove the final supports before launching a ship.
  • The crew took out the dogshores, and the ship began to move. (They removed the last braces, allowing the vessel to enter the water.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dogshore (n): no common variants; the word is a compound of "dog" (a type of clamp or support) and "shore" (a prop or brace).
• Shore (n): a prop or beam used to support a structure temporarily.
  • The house was held up by wooden shores during renovation. (Temporary supports kept the building stable.)

Synonyms

• Prop: a rigid support, often made of wood or metal.
• Brace: a device that holds something in position.
• Timber support: a general term for a wooden structure used to bear weight.

Related Idioms

• "To knock out the dogshores": an idiom meaning to remove the last obstacles or supports before initiating a major event (especially a ship launch).
  • The team knocked out the dogshores, and the ceremony began. (They cleared the final barriers, allowing the launch to proceed.)