FAVOUR, TO

To be careful of; also to be fair for. "Favour her" is purely a seaman's term; as when it blows in squalls, and the vessel is going rap-full, with a sti weather-helm and bow-seas. "Favour her boy" is "ease the helm, let the sails lift, and head the sea." So, in hauling a rope, "favour" means to trust to the men's force and elastcity, and not part the rope by taking a turn on a cleat, making a dead nip. A thorough seaman "favours" his spars and rigging, and sails his ship economically as well as expeditiously.