COLMIE. A fifth-year or full-grown coal-fish; sometimes called _comb_.
COLMOW. An old word for the sea-mew, derived from the Anglo-Saxon.
COLONEL. The commander of a regiment, either of horse or foot.
COLONNATI. The Spanish pillared dollar.
COLOURABLE. Ships' papers so drawn up as to be available for more
purposes than one. In admiralty law, a probable plea.
COLOUR-CHESTS. Chests appropriated to the reception of flags for making
signals.
COLOURS. The flags or banners which distinguish the ships of different
nations. Also, the regimental flags of the army. Hauling down colours in
token of submission, and the use of signals, are mentioned by Plutarch
in _Themistocles_.
COLOUR-SERGEANT. The senior sergeant of a company of infantry; he acts
as a kind of sergeant-major, and generally as pay-sergeant also to the
company. From amongst these trustworthy men, the sergeants for
attendance on the colours in the field were originally detailed.
COLT. A short piece of rope with a large knot at one end, kept in the
pocket for starting skulkers.
COLUMBIAD. A name given in the United States to a peculiar pattern of
gun in their service, principally adapted to the firing of heavy shells:
its external form does not appear to have been the result of much
science, and it is now generally superseded by the Dahlgren pattern.
COLUMN. A body of troops in deep files and narrow front, so disposed as
to move in regular succession.
COLURES. Great circles passing through the equinoctial and solstitial
points, and the poles of the earth.
COMB. A small piece of timber under the lower part of the beak-head, for
the fore-tack to be hauled to, in some vessels, instead of a bumkin: it
has the same use in bringing the fore-tack on board that the chess-tree
has to the main-tack. Also, the notched scale of a wire-micrometer.
Also, that projecting piece on the top of the cock of a gun-lock, which
affords the thumb a convenient hold for drawing it back.
COMBATANTS. Men, or bodies of troops, engaged in battle with each other.
COMBE. _See_ COOMB and CWM.
COMBERS. Heavy surges breaking on a beach.
COMBERS, GRASS. Men who volunteer from the plough-tail, and often prove
valuable seamen.
COMBING THE CAT. The boatswain, or other operator, running his fingers
through the cat o' nine tails, to separate them.
COMBINGS. _See_ COAMINGS.
COMBING SEA. A rolling and crested wave.