CLICKS. Small pieces of iron falling into a notched wheel attached to
the winches in cutters, &c., and thereby serving the office of pauls.
(_See_ RATCHET, or RATCHET-PAUL, in machinery.) It more peculiarly
belongs to inferior clock-work, hence click.
CLIFF [from the Anglo-Saxon _cleof_]. A precipitous termination of the
land, whatever be the soil. (_See_ CRAG.)
CLIMATE. Formerly meant a zone of the earth parallel to the equator, in
which the days are of a certain length at the summer solstice. The term
has now passed to the physical branch of geography, and means the
general character of the weather.
CLINCH. A particular method of fastening large ropes by a half hitch,
with the end stopped back to its own part by seizings; it is chiefly to
fasten the hawsers suddenly to the rings of the kedges or small anchors;
and the breechings of guns to the ring-bolts in the ship's side. Those
parts of a rope or cable which are clinched. Thus the outer end is
"bent" by the clinch to the ring of the anchor. The inner or tier-clinch
in the good old times was clinched to the main-mast, passing under the
tier beams (where it was unlawfully, as regards the custom of the navy,
clinched). Thus "the cable runs out to the clinch," means, there is no
more to veer.--_To clinch_ is to batter or rivet a bolt's end upon a
ring or piece of plate iron; or to turn back the point of a nail that it
may hold fast. (_See_ CLENCH.)
CLINCH A BUSINESS, TO. To finish it; to settle it beyond further
dispute, as the recruit taking the shilling.
CLINCH-BUILT. Clinker, or overlapping edges.
CLINCHER. An incontrovertible and smart reply; but sometimes the
confirmation of a story by a lie, or by some still more improbable yarn:
synonymous with _capping_.
CLINCHER OR CLINKER BUILT. Made of clincher-work, by the planks lapping
one over the other. The contrary of _carvel-work_. Iron ships after this
fashion are distinguished as being _lap-jointed_.
CLINCHER-NAILS. Those which are of malleable metal, as copper, wrought
iron, &c., which clinch by turning back the points in rough-built fir
boats where roofs and clinching are thus avoided.
CLINCHER-WORK. The disposition of the planks in the side of any boat or
vessel, when the lower edge of every plank overlaps that next below it.
This is sometimes written as pronounced, _clinker-work_.
CLIPHOOK. A hook employed for some of the ends of the running rigging.
CLIPPER. A fast sailer, formerly chiefly applied to the sharp-built
raking schooners of America, and latterly to Australian passenger-ships.
Larger vessels now built after their model are termed clipper-built:
sharp and fast; low in the water; rakish.
CLIVE. An old spelling of _cliff_.
CLOCK-CALM. When not a breath of wind ruffles the water.
CLOCK-STARS. A name for the nautical stars, which, from their positions
having been very exactly ascertained, are used for determining time.
CLOD-HOPPER. A clownish lubberly landsman.
CLOKIE-DOO. A west of Scotland name for the horse-mackerel.
CLOSE-ABOARD. Near or alongside; too close to be safe. "The boat is
close aboard," a caution to the officer in command to receive his
visitor. "The land is close aboard," danger inferred.
CLOSE-BUTT. Where caulking is not used, the butts or joints of the
planks are sometimes rabbeted, and fayed close, whence they are thus
denominated.
CLOSE CONTRACT. One not advertised.
CLOSED PORT. One interdicted.
CLOSE-FIST. One who drives a hard bargain in petty traffic.
CLOSE HARBOUR. That is one gained by labour from the element, formed by
encircling a portion of water with walls and quays, except at the
entrance, or by excavating the land adjacent to the sea or river, and
then letting in the water.
CLOSE-HAULED. The general arrangement or trim of a ship's sails when she
endeavours to progress in the nearest direction possible contrary to the
wind; in this manner of sailing the keel of square-rigged vessels
commonly makes an angle of six points with the line of the wind, but
cutters, luggers, and other fore-and-aft rigged vessels will sail even
nearer. This point of sailing is synonymous with _on a taut bowline_ and
_on a wind_.
CLOSE PACK. The ice floes so jammed together that boring is impossible,
and present efforts useless. (_See_ PACK-ICE.)
CLOSE-PORTS. Those which lie up rivers; a term in contradistinction to
_out-ports_.
CLOSE-QUARTERS, OR CLOSE-FIGHTS. Certain strong bulk-heads or barriers
of wood, formerly stretching across a merchant ship in several places;
they were used for retreat and shelter when a ship was boarded by an
adversary, and were therefore fitted with loop-holes. Powder-chests were
also fixed upon the deck, containing missiles which might be fired from
the close quarters upon the boarders. The old slave-ships were thus
fitted in case of the negroes rising, and flat-headed nails were cast
along the deck to prevent their walking with naked feet. In the navy,
yard-arm and yard-arm, sides touching.
CLOSE-REEFED. The last reefs of the top-sails, or other sails set, being
taken in.
CLOSE-SIGHT. The notch in the base-ring of a cannon, to place the eye in
a line with the top-sight.
CLOSE THE WIND, TO. To haul to it.--_Close upon a tack or bowline_, or
_close by a wind_, is when the wind is on either bow, and the tacks or
bowlines are hauled forwards that they may take the wind to make the
best of their way.--_Close to the wind_, when her head is just so near
the wind as to fill the sails without shaking them.
CLOSE WITH THE LAND, TO. To approach near to it.
CLOSH [from the Danish _klos_]. A sobriquet for east-country seamen.
CLOTHED. A mast is said to be clothed when the sail is so long as to
reach the deck-gratings. Also, well clothed with canvas; sails well cut,
well set, and plenty of them.
CLOTHES-LINES. A complete system of parallel lines, hoisted between the
main and mizen masts twice a week to dry the washed clothes of the
seamen.
CLOTHING. The rigging of the bowsprit.--_Clothing the bowsprit_ is
rigging it. Also, the purser's slops for the men.
CLOTH IN THE WIND. Too near to the wind, and sails shivering. Also,
groggy.
CLOTHS. In a sail, are the breadths of canvas in its whole width. When a
ship has broad sails they say she spreads much cloth.
CLOTTING. A west-country method of catching eels with worsted thread.
CLOUD. A collection of vapours suspended in the atmosphere. Also, under
a cloud of canvas.
CLOUGH. A word derived from the verb _to cleave_, and signifying a
narrow valley between two hills. (_See_ CLEUGH.) Also, in commerce, an
allowance on the turn of the beam in weighing.
CLOUT. From the Teutonic _kotzen_, a blow. Also, a gore of blood.
CLOUT-NAILS [Fr. _clouter_]. To stud with nails, as ships' bottoms and
piles were before the introduction of sheet copper.
CLOUTS. Thin plates of iron nailed on that part of the axle-tree of a
gun-carriage that comes through the nave, and through which the
linch-pin goes.
CLOVE-HITCH. A knot or noose by which one rope is fastened to another.
(_See_ HITCH.) Two half hitches round a spar or rope.
CLOVE-HOOK. Synonymous with _clasp-hook_.
CLOVES. Planks made by cleaving. Certain weights for wool, butter, &c.
Also, long spike-nails [derived from _clou_, Fr.]
CLOW. A kind of sluice in which the aperture is regulated by a board
sliding in a frame and groove.
CLOY, TO. To drive an iron spike by main force into the vent or
touch-hole of a gun, which renders it unserviceable till the spike be
either worked out, or a new vent drilled. (_See_ NAILING and SPIKING.)
CLUBBED. A fashion which obtained in the time of pig-tails of doubling
them up while at sea.
CLUBBING. Drifting down a current with an anchor out.
CLUBBING A FLEET. Man[oe]uvring so as to place the first division on the
windward side.
CLUBBOCK. The spotted blenny or gunnel (_Gunnellus vulgaris_).
CLUB-HAUL, TO. A method of tacking a ship by letting go the lee-anchor
as soon as the wind is out of the sails, which brings her head to wind,
and as soon as she pays off, the cable is cut and the sails trimmed;
this is never had recourse to but in perilous situations, and when it is
expected that the ship would otherwise miss stays. The most gallant
example was performed by Captain Hayes in H.M.S. _Magnificent_, 74, in
Basque Roads, in 1814, when with lower-yards and top-masts struck, he
escaped between two reefs from the enemy at Oleron. He bore the name of
_Magnificent Hayes_ to the day of his death, for the style in which he
executed it.
CLUB-LAW. The rule of violence and strength.
CLUE. Of a square sail, either of the lower corners reaching down to
where the tacks and sheets are made fast to it; and is that part which
comes goring out from the square of the sail.
CLUE-GARNETS. A sort of tackle rove through a garnet block, attached to
the clues of the main and fore sails to haul up and truss them to the
yard; which is termed clueing up those sails as for goose-wings, or for
furling. (_See_ BLOCK.)
CLUE-LINES. Are for the same purpose as clue-garnets, only that the
latter term is solely appropriated to the courses, while the word
clue-line is applied to those ropes on all the other square sails; they
come down from the quarters of the yards to the clues, or lower corners
of the sails, and by which the sails are hauled or clued up for furling.
CLUE OF A HAMMOCK. The combination of small lines by which it is
suspended, being formed of knittles, grommets, and laniards; they are
termed double or single clues, according as there are one or two at each
end. Latterly iron grommets or rings were introduced, but did not afford
the required spread, and in some cases triangular irons, or
span-shackles were substituted, called _Spanish clues_, formed by fixing
the knittles at equal distances upon a piece of rope instead of a
grommet, which having an eye spliced, and a laniard placed at each end,
extends the hammock in the same way as a double clue.--_From clue to
earing._ A phrase implying from the bottom to the top, or synonymous
with "from top to toe." Or literally the diagonal of a square sail.
Also, every portion, as in shifting dress; removing every article. Also,
cleaning a ship from clue to earing; every crevice.--_A clue up._ A case
of despair. In readiness for death.
CLUE-ROPE. In large sails, the eye or loop at the clues is made of a
rope larger than the bolt-rope into which it is spliced.
CLUE UP! The order to clue up the square sails.
CLUMP. A circular plantation of trees.
CLUMP-BLOCKS. Those that are made thicker or stronger than ordinary
blocks. (_See_ BLOCK, TACK-AND-SHEET.)
CLUSTER. _See_ GROUP.
CLUTCH. The oyster spawn adhering to stones, oyster shells, &c.
CLUTCH. Forked stanchions of iron or wood. The same as crutch, clutch,
or clamp block. (_See_ SNATCH-BLOCK.)
CLUTTERY. Weather inclining to stormy.
COACH, OR COUCH. A sort of chamber or apartment in a large ship of war,
just before the great cabin. The floor of it is formed by the aftmost
part of the quarter-deck, and the roof of it by the poop: it is
generally the habitation of the flag-captain.
COACH-HORSES. The crew of the state barge; usually fifteen selected men,
to support the captain in any daring exploits.
COACH-WHIP. The pendant.
COAD. In ship-building, the fayed piece called _bilge-keel_.
COAK. A small perforated triangular bit of brass inserted into the
middle of the shiver (now called _sheave_) of a block, to keep it from
splitting and galling by the pin, whereon it turns. Called also _bush_,
_cock_ or _cogg_, and _dowel_.
COAKING. Uniting pieces of spar by means of tabular projections formed
by cutting away the solid of one piece into a hollow, so as to make a
projection in the other fit in correctly, the butts preventing the
pieces from drawing asunder. Coaks, or dowels, are fitted into the beams
and knees of vessels, to prevent their slipping.
COAL-FISH. The _Gadus carbonarius_. Called _gerrack_ in its first year,
_cuth_ or _queth_ in its second, _sayth_ in its third, _lythe_ in its
fourth, and _colmie_ in its fifth, when it is full grown.
COALING. Taking in a supply of coals for a cruise or voyage.
COALS. To be hauled over the coals, is to be brought to strict account.
COAL-SACKS. An early name of some dark patches of sky in the Milky Way,
nearly void of stars visible to the naked eye. The largest patch is near
the Southern Cross, and called the Black Magellanic Cloud.
COAL-SAY. The coal-fish.
COAL-TAR. Tar extracted from bituminous coal.
COAL-TRIMMER. One employed in a steamer to stow and trim the fuel. This
duty and that of the stoker are generally combined.
COAMING-CARLINGS. Those timbers that inclose the mortar-beds of
bomb-vessels, and which are called carlings, because they are shifted
occasionally. Short beams where a hatchway is cut.
COAMINGS OF THE HATCHES OR GRATINGS. Certain raised work rather higher
than the decks, about the edges of the hatch-openings of a ship, to
prevent the water on deck from running down. Loop-holes were made in the
coamings for firing muskets from below, in order to clear the deck of an
enemy when a ship is boarded. There is a rabbet in their inside upper
edge, to receive the hatches or gratings.
COAST. The sea-shore and the adjoining country; in fact, the sea-front
of the land. (_See_ SHORE.)
COAST-BLOCKADE. A body of men formerly under the jurisdiction of the
Customs, termed Preventive Service, offering a disposable force in
emergency; but which has been turned over to the control of the
Admiralty, and now become the Coast-guard, over which a commodore, as
controller-general, presides. (_See_ FENCIBLES.)
COASTER. _See_ COASTING.
COASTING, OR TO COAST ALONG. The act of making a progress along the
sea-coast of any country, for which purpose it is necessary to observe
the time and direction of the tide, to know the reigning winds, the
roads and havens, the different depths of water, and the qualities of
the ground. As these vessels are not fitted for distant sea voyages,
they are termed coasters.
COASTING PILOT. A pilot who has become sufficiently acquainted with the
nature of any particular coast, to conduct a ship or fleet from one part
of it to another; but only within his limits. He may be superseded by
the first branch-pilot he meets after passing his bounds.
COASTING TRADE. The commerce of one port of the United Kingdom with
another port thereof. A trade confined by law to British ships and
vessels.
COAST-WAITER. Custom-house superintendents of the landing and shipping
of goods coastways.
COAST-WARNING. Synonymous with _storm-signal_; formerly fire-beacons
were used to give warning of the approach of an enemy.
COAT. A piece of tarred canvas nailed round above the partners, or that
part where the mast or bowsprit enters the deck. Its use is to prevent
the water from running down between decks. There is sometimes a coat for
the rudder, nailed round the hole where the rudder traverses in the
ship's counter. It also implies the stuff with which the ship's sides or
masts are varnished, to defend them from the sun and weather, as
turpentine, pitch, varnish, or paint; in this sense we say, "Give her a
coat of tar or paint." By neglecting the scraper this may become a crust
of coatings.
COAT OF MAIL. The chiton shell.
COAT-TACKS. The peculiar nails with which the mast coats are fastened.
COB. A young herring. Also, a sea-gull. Also, a sort of short
break-water--so called in our early statutes: such was that which forms
the harbour of Lyme Regis, originally composed of piles and timber,
lined with heaps of rock; but now constructed of stone compacted with
cement.
COBB. A Gibraltar term for a Spanish dollar.
COBBING. An old punishment sometimes inflicted at sea for breach of
certain regulations--chiefly for those quitting their station during the
night. The offender was struck a certain number of times on the breech
with a flat piece of wood called the _cobbing-board_. Also, when _watch_
was cried, all persons were expected to take off their hats on pain of
being cobbed.
COBBLE, TO. To mend or repair hastily. Also, the _coggle_ or _cog_
(which see).--_Cobble or coggle stones_, pebbly shingle, ballast-stones
rounded by attrition, boulders, &c.
COBBLER. An armourer's rasp.
COBBO. The small fish known as the miller's thumb.
COBLE. A low flat-floored boat with a square stern, used in the cod and
turbot fishery, 20 feet long and 5 feet broad; of about one ton burden,
rowed with three pairs of oars, and furnished with a lug-sail; it is
admirably constructed for encountering a heavy swell. Its stability is
secured by the rudder extending 4 or 5 feet under her bottom. It
belonged originally to the stormy coast of Yorkshire. There is also a
small boat under the same name used by salmon fishers.
COBOOSE. _See_ CABOOSE.
COCK. That curved arm affixed to the lock of small arms, which, when
released by the touch of the trigger, flies forward and discharges the
piece by percussion, whether of flint and steel, fulminating priming,
needles abutting on the latter, &c.
COCKADE. First worn by St. Louis on his unfortunate crusade.
COCK-A-HOOP. In full confidence, and high spirits.
COCKANDY. A name on our northern shores for the puffin, otherwise called
_Tom Noddy_ (_Fratercula arctica_).
COCK-BILL. The situation of the anchor when suspended from the cat-head
ready for letting go. Also said of a cable when it hangs right up and
down. To put the yards a-cockbill is to top them up by one lift to an
angle with the deck. The symbol of mourning.
COCK-BOAT. A very small boat used on rivers or near the shore. Formerly
the cock was the general name of a yawl: it is derived from _coggle_ or
_cog_ (which see).
COCKETS, OR COQUETS. An official custom-house warrant descriptive of
certain goods which the searcher is to allow to pass and be shipped.
Also, a galley term for counterfeit ship-papers.--_Cocket bread._ Hard
sea-biscuit.
COCK-PADDLE. A name of the paddle or lump-fish (_Cyclopterus lumpus_).
COCKLE. A common bivalve mollusc (_Cardium edule_), often used as food.
COCKLING SEA. Tumbling waves dashing against each other with a short and
quick motion.
COCKPIT. The place where the wounded men are attended to, situated near
the after hatchway, and under the lower gun-deck. The midshipmen alone
inhabited the cockpit in former times, but in later days commission and
warrant officers, civilians, &c., have their cabins there.--_Fore
cockpit._ A place leading to the magazine passage, and the boatswain's,
gunner's, and carpenter's store-rooms; in large ships, and during war
time, the boatswain and carpenter generally had their cabins in the fore
cockpit, instead of being under the forecastle.
COCKPITARIAN. A midshipman or master's mate; so called from messing in
the cockpit of a line-of-battle ship.
COCKSETUS. An old law-term for a boatman or coxswain.
COCKSWAIN, OR COXSWAIN. The person who steers a boat; after the officer
in command he has charge of the crew, and all things belonging to it. He
must be ready with his crew to man the boat on all occasions.
COCOA, OR CHOCOLATE NUTS, commonly so termed. (_See_ CACAO.) It is the
breakfast food of the navy.
COCOA-NUT TREE. The _Palma cocos_ yields _toddy_; the nut, a valuable
oil and milky juice; the stem, bark, branches, &c., also serve numerous
purposes. (_See_ PALMETTO.)
COD. The centre of a deep bay. The bay of a trawl or seine. Also, the
_Gadus morrhua_, one of the most important of oceanic fishes. The cod is
always found on the submerged hills known as banks; as the Dogger Bank,
and banks of Newfoundland. (_See_ LING.)
COD-BAIT. The large sea-worm or lug, dug from the wet sands. The squid
or cuttle, herrings, caplin, any meat, or even a false fish of bright
tin or pewter. (_See_ JIG.)
CODDY-MODDY. A gull in its first year's plumage.
CODE OF SIGNALS. Series of flags, &c., for communicating at sea.
COD-FISHER'S CREW. The crew of a banker, or fishing-vessel, which
anchors in 60 or 70 fathoms on the Great Bank of Newfoundland, and
remains fishing until full, or driven off by stress of weather. Season
from June until October. (_See_ FISHERIES.)
CODGER. An easy-going man of regularity. Also, a knowing and eccentric
hanger-on; one who will not move faster than he pleases.
COD-LINE. An eighteen-thread line.
COD-SOUNDS. The swim-bladders of the cod-fish, cured and packed for the
market; the palates also of the fish are included as "tongues and
sounds."
COEHORN. A brass mortar, named after the Dutch engineer who invented it.
It is the smallest piece of ordnance in the service, having a bore of
4-1/2 inches diameter, a length of 1 foot, and a weight of 3/4 cwt. They
throw their 12-pounder shells with much precision to moderate distances,
and being fixed to wooden beds, are very handy for ships' gangways,
launches, &c., afloat, and for advanced trenches, the attack of
stockades, &c., ashore.
COFFER, OR COFFRE. A depth sunk in the bottom of a dry ditch, to baffle
besiegers when they attempt to cross it.
COFFER-DAM. A coffer-dam consists of two rows of piles, each row boarded
strongly inside, and being filled with clay within well rammed, thereby
resists outward pressure, and is impenetrable by the surrounding water.
(_See_ CAISSON.)
COGGE. An Anglo-Saxon word for a cock-boat or light yawl, being thus
mentioned in _Morte Arthure_--
"Then he covers his cogge, and caches one ankere."
But coggo, as enumerated in an ordinance of parliament (_temp._ Rich.
II.), seems to have been a vessel of burden used to carry troops.
COGGE-WARE. Goods carried in a cogge.
COGGLE, OR COG. A small fishing-boat upon the coasts of Yorkshire, and
in the rivers Ouse and Humber. Hence the _cogmen_, who after shipwreck
or losses by sea, wandered about to defraud people by begging and
stealing, until they were restrained by proper laws.
COGGS. The same with _coaks_ or _dowels_ (which see).
COGS OF A WHEEL; applies to all wheel machinery now used at sea or on
shore: thus _windlass-cogs_, _capstan-cogs_, &c.
COGUING THE NOSE. Making comfortable over hot negus or grog.
COIGN. _See_ QUOIN.
COIL. A certain quantity of rope laid up in ring fashion. The manner in
which all ropes are disposed of on board ship for convenience of
stowage. They are laid up round, one fake over another, or by concentric
turns, termed _Flemish coil_, forming but one tier, and lying flat on
the deck, the end being in the middle of it, as a snake or worm coils
itself.
COILING. A sort of serpentine winding of a cable or other rope, that it
may occupy a small space in the ship. Each of the windings of this sort
is called a _fake_, and one range of _fakes_ upon the same line is
called a _tier_. There are generally from five to seven fakes in a tier,
and three or four tiers in the whole length of the cable. The smaller
ropes employed about the sails are coiled upon cleats at sea, to prevent
their being entangled.
COIR. Cordage made from the fibrous husks of the cocoa-nut; though
cables made of it are disagreeable to handle and coil away, they have
the advantage of floating in water, so that vessels ride easily by them;
they are still used by the Calcutta pilot-brigs. True coir is from the
_Borassus gomutus_, the long fibrous black cloth-like covering of the
stem. It is from this that the black cables in the East are made; the
cocoa-nut fibre being of a reddish hue. It is used for strong brushes,
being cylindrical and smooth, with a natural gloss.
COKERS. The old name for cocoa-nut trees.
CO-LATITUDE. The abbreviation for complement of latitude, or what it is
short of 90 deg.
COLD-CHISEL. A stout chisel made of steel, used for cutting iron when it
is cold.
COLD-EEL. The _Gymnotus electricus_.
COLE [from the German _kohl_]. Colewort or sea-kale; a plant in its wild
state peculiar to the sea-coast.
COLE-GOOSE. A name for the cormorant (_Phalacrocorax carbo_).
COLLAR. An eye in the end or bight of a shroud or stay, to go over the
mast-head. The upper part of a stay. Also, a rope formed into a wreath,
with a heart or dead-eye seized in the bight, to which the stay is
confined at the lower part. Also, the neck of a bolt.
COLLAR-BEAM. The beam upon which the stanchions of the beak-head
bulk-head stand.
COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS. An officer who takes the general superintendence
of the customs at any port.
COLLIERS. Vessels employed exclusively to carry coals from the northern
ports of England. This trade has immemorially been an excellent nursery
for seamen. But Shakspeare, in _Twelfth Night_, makes Sir Toby exclaim,
"Hang him, foul collier!" The evil genius has lately introduced steam
screw-vessels into this invaluable school.
COLLIMATION, LINE OF. The optical axis of a telescope, or an imaginary
line passing through the centre of the tube.
COLLISION. The case of one ship running foul of another; the injuries
arising from which, where no blame is imputable to the master of either,
is generally borne by the owners of both in equal parts. (_See_
ALLISION.)
COLLISION-CLAUSE. _See_ RUNNING-DOWN CLAUSE.