DCHP-1 Online
loading timber Lumbering, Obs. 
See quotes.
- 1854 To secure this [the crib] four heavy sticks called loading timbers--generally those which are too crooked to fit well between the floats--are dragged on top of the traverses and by their weight sink the floating timbers lower in the water; the friction thus created against the under side of the traverses (arising from the floatation of the timbers which are in the water) effectually prevents the latter from moving backward or forward, while the loading timbers are fairly shipped high and dry and have no tendency to move.
- 1896 The oars were long, the men using them stood one on each side of the loading timber in the middle of the crib. This middle stick had a rowlock on each end for the men to steer by.
- 1854 To secure this [the crib] four heavy sticks called loading timbers--generally those which are too crooked to fit well between the floats--are dragged on top of the traverses and by their weight sink the floating timbers lower in the water; the friction thus created against the under side of the traverses (arising from the floatation of the timbers which are in the water) effectually prevents the latter from moving backward or forward, while the loading timbers are fairly shipped high and dry and have no tendency to move.