Those M&D words

[David Casseres]

On 11/19/06, Ya Sam <takoitov at hotmail.com> wrote:
> While I'm at it...
>
> "Gun-Purchase Arrangement", some kind of cannon supporting structure?

Not a structure, but an arrangement of ropes and pulleys (blocks) for
hauling a naval cannon up to the gun-port so it can be fired, and for
controlling the recoil when it is fired.

Technically, a single purchase is one rope, fastened at one end,
passed through a block and returned toward the fastened end.  A double
purchase involves two blocks with the rope doubled back and forth
between them, and so forth.