Note 275 — AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF PHINEAS PETT

The Tuck is 'that part of the ship where the ends of the bottom planks are collected together immediately under the stem ... a square tuck' (as in this case) 'is terminated above by the wing transom and below and on each side by the fashion-pieces' (Falconer, Marine Dictionary). According to Sutherland (Shipbuilder's Assistant), the 'height of the tuck' was taken from the point where the heels of the fashion-pieces were 'let in upon the posts,' i.e. upon the stern post and false stern post.