The sea-mans dictionary, or, An exposition and demonstration of all the parts and things belonging to a shippe together with an explanation of all the termes and phrases used in the practique of navigation / composed by Henry Manwaring ...

Furr, or Furr'd

There are two kinds of furring, the one is after a ship is built, to lay on an other planck upon the side of her (which is called planck,) The other, which is more eminent, and more properly furring, is to ripp off the first plancks, and to put other timbers upon the first, and so to put on the plancks upon these timbers: The occasion of it is, to make a ship beare a better saile, for when a ship is too narrow, and the bearing either not laid out enough, or too low, then they must make her broader, and lay her bearing higher; They commonly Furr some two or three strakes under water and as much above, according as the ship requires, more or lesse: I thinke in all the world, there are not so many ships Furd, as are in England:

and it is pitty that there is no order taken, either for the punishing of those who build such ships; or the preventing of it; for it is an infinite losse to the owners, and an utter spoiling and disgrace to all ships that are so handled.