Naut. Obs. See quot. 1627, and cf. CLOSE-QUARTERS. Also fig.
1602. Marston, Antonio & Mellida, I. i. (N.). How her eyes dart wonder on my heart!… Stande firme on decke, when beauties close-fight ’s up.
1622. R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea (1847), 102. Had we beene able to have spared but a dozen men, doubtlesse we had done with her what we would; for shee had no close fights.
1627. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xii. 58. A ships close fights, are smal ledges of wood laid crosse one another like the grates of iron in a prisons window, betwixt the maine mast, and the fore mast, and are called gratings.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Close-quarters or Close-fights.
