Deck \Deck\, n. [D. dek. See Deck, v.]
   1. The floorlike
         covering of the horizontal sections, or
      compartments,
         of a ship. Small vessels have only one deck;
      larger
         ships have two or three decks.
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         Note: The following are the more common names of the decks
         of
         vessels having more than one.
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   Berth deck (Navy), a deck next below
         the gun deck, where
      the hammocks of the crew are
         swung.

   Boiler
         deck (River Steamers), the deck on
         which the boilers
      are placed.

   Flush deck, any
         continuous, unbroken deck from stem to
      stern.

  
         Gun deck (Navy), a deck
         below the spar deck, on which
         the
      ship's guns are carried. If there are two gun
         decks, the
      upper one is called the main deck, the
         lower, the lower
      gun deck; if there are three, one is
         called the middle gun
      deck.

   Half-deck, that
         portion of the deck next below the spar
      deck which is
         between the mainmast and the cabin.

   Hurricane deck
         (River Steamers, etc.), the upper deck,
      usually a
         light deck, erected above the frame of the hull.
      


           Orlop deck, the
         deck or part of a deck where the cables
         are
      stowed, usually below the water line.

   {Poop
         deck}, the deck forming the roof of a poop or poop
     
         cabin, built on the upper deck and extending from the
     
         mizzenmast aft.

   Quarter-deck, the part
         of the upper
         deck abaft the
      mainmast, including the poop deck when
         there is one.

   Spar
         deck.
      (a) Same as the
         upper deck.
      (b) Sometimes a light deck fitted over
         the upper deck.

   Upper deck, the highest deck of the
         hull, extending from
      stem to stern.
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         Webster]

   2. (arch.) The upper part or top of a mansard
         roof or curb
      roof when made nearly flat.
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         Webster]

   3. (Railroad) The roof of a passenger car.
 
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   4. A pack or set of playing
         cards.
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            The king was slyly fingered from the deck. --Shak.
     
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   5. A heap or store. [Obs.]
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         Webster]

            Who . . . hath such trinkets
            Ready in the deck.                    --Massinger.
     
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   6. (A["e]ronautics) A main a["e]roplane
         surface, esp. of a
      biplane or multiplane.
     
         [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   7. the portion of a bridge which
         serves as the roadway.
      [PJC]

   8. a flat platform
         adjacent to a house, usually without a
      roof; -- it is
         typically used for relaxing out of doors,
      outdoor
         cooking, or entertaining guests.
      [PJC]

   {Between
         decks}. See under Between.

   {Deck
         bridge} (Railroad
         Engineering), a bridge which carries
      the track upon
         the upper chords; -- distinguished from a
      through
         bridge, which carries the track upon the lower
     
         chords, between the girders.

   Deck curb (Arch.), a
         curb supporting a deck in roof
      construction.

  
         Deck floor (Arch.), a
         floor which serves also as a roof,
         as
      of a belfry or balcony.

   Deck hand, a
         sailor hired to help on the vessel's deck, but
      not
         expected to go aloft.

   Deck molding (Arch.), the
         molded finish of the edge of a
      deck, making the
         junction with the lower slope of the
      roof.

  
         Deck roof (Arch.), a
         nearly flat roof which is not
     
         surmounted by parapet walls.

   Deck transom
         (Shipbuilding), the transom into which the
      deck is
         framed.

   To
         clear the decks (Naut.), to remove every
         unnecessary
      incumbrance in preparation for battle; to
         prepare for
      action.

   To sweep the deck (Card
         Playing), to clear off all the
      stakes on the table by
         winning them.
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