In mercantile law . A small allowance or compensation payable to the master and mariners of a ship or vessel; to the former for the use of his cables and ropes to discharge the goods of the merchant; to the latter for lading and unlading in any port or haven. Abb. Shlpp. 404; Peters v. Speights, 4 Md. Ch. 381; Blake . Morgan, 3 Mart O. S. (La.) 381.