Naut. Obs. Also 7 vial, violl, vyoll; 8–9 voyol, 9 voyal. [Of obscure origin.] (See later quots.)
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 8. The violl is fastened together at both ends with an eye or two, with a wall knot, and seased together.
c. 1635. Capt. Boteler, Dial. Sea Services (1685), 236.
1667. Davenant & Dryden, Tempest, I. i. Must within. Our vial’s broke. Vent. within. Tis but our vial-block has given way.
1711. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 153. Viol cabl’d, as big as the Fore Stay. Ibid., 165. Viol, a large Hawser used to heave in the Cable.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Voyol, a large rope used to unmoor, or heave up the anchors of a ship, by transmitting the effort of the capstern to the cables.
1841. R. H. Dana, Seaman’s Man., 133. Viol, or Voyal, a larger messenger sometimes used in weighing an anchor by a capstan.
[Cf. 1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 713. Viol, or Voyol, a large messenger formerly used to assist in weighing an anchor by the capstan.]
1869. W. M. Thomas, trans. Hugo’s Toilers of Sea, 191. Its chain was there, and … might still be of service, unless the strain of the voyal should break away the planking.
b. attrib., esp. in viol-block.
1667. [see above].
1694. in Navy Board Lett., xxix. 833. Blocks. Vyoll, of 54 inch.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic., lxxii. He may man his capstans and viol block, if he wool; but he’ll as soon heave up the Pike of Teneriff, as bring his anchor aweigh!
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, I. 157. Voyol or Viol Block is a large single-sheaved block…. It is used in heaving up the anchor.
[1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Viol or Voyol Block, a large single-sheaved block through which the messenger passed when the anchor was weighed by the fore or jeer capstan. Ibid. This voyal-purchase.]
