v. [UN-2 5, 4, 7. Cf. Du. ontschepen, G. entschiffen.]
1. trans. To take out of, remove or discharge from, a ship; to put on shore (or into a boat, etc.) from a vessel.
a. 1450. Contn. Brut, 542. He … saylet toward Normaundy, and londit at Hogges,… and vnshippit his pepill.
1497. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 324. Ladders for to Shep men and vnship men with.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxviii. 113 b/2. The kynge of Ciper … arriued at Douer,… and refreshed hym tyll all his cariage was vnshipped.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 210. They vnshipped their horse and harneys, not knowing in what part of England they were.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, V. 174. They vnshipped all their goods … into their Boats.
1641. W. Hakewil, Libertie of Subject, 102. Impositions are not paid upon the buying and selling of Merchandize, but when they are to ship or unship.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 426. In the Voyage … he had had the Misfortune to be five Times shipp’d and unshipp’d.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. i. We unshipped our goods.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 6. All hands were busy in unshipping the cargo, to lighten the vessel.
1885. Act 48–49 Vict., c. 41 § 17. Any harbour … at which vessels can … ship or unship goods or passengers.
refl. a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1809), 253. They forthwith landed, and unshipped themselves.
b. To deprive of, dismiss from, a ship.
1829. Marryat, F. Mildmay, xxi. I should have unshipped him next cruise.
2. Naut. To detach or remove (esp. a mast, rudder, or oar) from a fixed place or position.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 235. We were not able to beare in, but by violence were constrained to take the sea agayne, our Pinnesse being vnshipt.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1776), Dégarnir le cabestan, to unrig the capstern, by taking off the voyol, and unshipping the bars.
1773. Cook, S. Voy. (1777), II. ii. I. 205. He … dived under the boat, and … unshipped the rudder.
1806. Pike, Sources Mississ. (1810), 102. Obliged to unship our mast to prevent its rolling overboard.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. i. The speaker at the same time unshipping his scull on that side.
1874. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., viii. 241. So that … the apparatus … may … be … unshipped and re-shipped again at pleasure.
fig. 1816. Sporting Mag., XLVII. 277. Crocken … beat a Knightsbridge wheelwright … by unshipping his jaw in the fourth round.
b. In general use.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 140. Unshipping the tackle belonging to the lantern.
1832. Lincoln Herald, 13 Jan., 2. John Page saw Clarke unship the flag on the top of the governor’s house.
1839. F. A. Griffiths, Artill. Man., 87. No. 1—Unships the handspike, [etc.].
1882. Sala, Amer. Revis. (1885), 384. Tell the porter not to unship the little one-legged flap table … fixed to the wall of the car.
3. intr. a. To admit of being detached or removed.
1834. Marryat, P. Simple, II. 30. Six large pieces of iron,… with a gimblet at one end of each, and a square at the other, which fitted to a handle which unshipped.
1844. Stephens, Bk. Farm, III. 1169. The top-sides … are fitted to ship and unship as occasion may require.
1862. Catal. Internal. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 2256. The upper ladders unship by means of shifting levers.
b. To become detached.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 161. Capstan-bar Pins, pins inserted through their ends to prevent their unshipping.
1883. Pall Mall G., 13 March, 10/2. The boat’s rudder unshipped and caused the boat to capsize.
4. To undergo unloading from a vessel.
1860. Dickens, Christmas Stories, Message fr. Sea, i. Such other cargo as was … unshipping at the pier.
5. trans. a. Of a horse: To unseat, throw (the rider).
1831. Scott, Lett., in Westm. Gaz., 14 June (1904), 12/2. My forester walks by his [sc. the pony’s] head for fear a start or sudden stumble should unship me altogether.
1853. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, lxvii. One [horse] has still his muzzle on, lest he should unship his rider and eat him.
b. To unbalance, upset.
1827. Chalmers, in Hanna, Life (1851), III. 163. I really fear lest his [sc. Irving’s] prophecies may unship him altogether.
Hence Unshipped ppl. a., Unshipping vbl. sb.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par. (1870), II. III. 389. A ring of Icelanders, who sat Upon the bales of *unshipped goods.
1497. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 327. Ladders for shippyng & *vnshippyng of men.
1709. Act 8 Anne c. 7 § 17. The Persons … to whose Hands the same shall knowingly come, after the unshipping thereof.
1803. Act 43 Geo. III., c. 132 § 28. To prevent the fraudulently unshipping or re-landing of Goods.
