Sailor's Word-book, A - C — Ce - Cha
C. B.
The uncials of Companion of the most honourable Order of the Bath.
This grade was recently distributed so profusely that an undecorated veteran testily remarked that if government went on thus there would soon be more C. B.'
s than A. B.'
s in the navy.
CEASE FIRING.
The order to leave off.
CEILING.
The lining or planks on the inside of a ship's frame: these are placed on the flat of the floor, and carried up to the hold-beams.
The term is a synonym of _foot-waling_ (which see).
CELLS.
_See_ SILLS.
CELOCES, OR CELETES.
Light row-boats, formerly used in piracy, and also for conveying advice.
CEMENT, ROMAN.
For docks, piers, &c. _See_ POZZOLANA.
CENTIME.
_See_ FRANC.
CENTINEL.
_See_ SENTINEL.
CENTRAL ECLIPSE.
_See_ ECLIPSE.
CENTRE (usually CENTER).
The division of a fleet between the van and the rear of the line of battle, and between the weather and lee divisions in the order of sailing.
CENTRE OF CAVITY, OF DISPLACEMENT, OF IMMERSION, AND OF BUOYANCY, are synonymous terms in naval architecture for the mean centre of that part of a vessel which is immersed in the water.
CENTRE OF GRAVITY, OR BALANCING POINT.
_See_ GRAVITY.
CENTRE OF MOTION.
_See_ MOTION (CENTRE OF).
CENTURION.
A military officer who commanded one hundred men, in the Roman armies.
CEOLA.
A very old term for a large ship.
CERADENE.
A large fresh-water mussel.
CERCURI.
Ancient ships of burden fitted with both sails and oars.
CERTIFICATE.
A voucher or written testimony to the truth of any statement.
An attestation of servitude, signed by the captain, is given with all discharges of men in the navy.
CERTIFY, TO.
To bear official testimony.
CESSATION OF ARMS.
A discontinuation or suspension of hostilities.
CETINE.
An ancient large float, says Hesychius, "in bulk like a whale;"
derived from _cetus_, which applied both to whale and ship.
C. G.
Coast-guard (which see).
CHAD.
A fish like a small bream, abundant on the south-west coasts of England.
CHAFE, TO.
To rub or fret the surface of a cable, mast, or yard, by the motion of the ship or otherwise, against anything that is too hard for it.
--_Chafing-gear_, is the stuff put upon the rigging and spars to prevent their being chafed.
CHAFFER.
A name for a whale or grampus of the northern seas.
CHAFING-CHEEKS.
A name given by old sailors to the sheaves instead of blocks on the yards in light-rigged vessels.
CHAFING-GEAR.
Mats, sinnet, spun-yarn, strands, battens, scotchmen, and the like.
CHAIN.
When mountains, hills, lakes, and islands are linked together, or follow each other in succession, so that their whole length greatly exceeds their breadth, they form what is termed a chain.
A measuring chain is divided into links, &c. , made of stout wire, because line is apt to shrink on wet ground and give way.
The chain measure is 66 feet.
CHAINAGE OF SHIP.
An old right of the admiral.
CHAIN-BOLT.
A large bolt to secure the chains of the dead-eyes through the toe-link, for the purpose of securing the masts by the shrouds.
Also, the bolts which fasten the channel-plates to the ship's side.
CHAIN-CABLE COMPRESSOR.
A curved arm of iron which revolves on a bolt through an eye at one end, at the other is a larger eye in which a tackle is hooked; it is used to bind the cable against the pipe through which it is passing, and check it from running out too quickly.
CHAIN-CABLE CONTROLLER.
A contrivance for the prevention of one part of the chain riding on another while heaving in.
CHAIN-CABLES.
Are not new; Caesar found them on the shores of the British Channel.
In 1818 I saw upwards of eighty sail of vessels with them at Desenzano, on the Lago di Garda.
They have all but superseded hemp cables in recent times; they are divided into parts 15 fathoms in length, which are connected by shackles, any one of which may be slipped in emergency; at each 7-1/2 fathoms a swivel used to be inserted, but in many cases they are now dispensed with.
CHAIN-CABLE SHACKLES.
Used for coupling the parts of a chain-cable at various lengths, so that they may be disconnected when circumstance demands it.
CHAIN-HOOK.
An iron rod with a handling-eye at one end, and a hook at the other, for hauling the chain-cables about.
CHAIN-PIPE.
An aperture through which a chain-cable passes from the chain-well to the deck above.
CHAIN-PLATES.
Plates of iron with their lower ends bolted to the ship's sides under the channels, and to these plates the dead-eyes are fastened; other plates lap over and secure them below.
Formerly, and still in great ships, the dead-eyes were linked to chain-pieces, and from their being occasionally made in one plate they have obtained this appellation.
CHAIN-PUMP.
This is composed of two long metal tubes let down through the decks somewhat apart from each other, but joined at their lower ends, which are pierced with holes for the admission of water.
Above the upper part of the tubes is a sprocket-wheel worked by crank handles;
over this wheel, and passing through both tubes, is an endless chain, furnished at certain distances with bucket valves or pistons, turning round a friction-roller.
The whole, when set in motion by means of the crank handles, passing down one tube and up the other, raises the water very rapidly.
CHAINS, properly CHAIN-WALES, or CHANNELS.
Broad and thick planks projecting horizontally from the ship's outside, to which they are fayed and bolted, abreast of and somewhat behind the masts.
They are formed to project the chain-plate, and give the lower rigging greater out-rig or spread, free from the top-sides of the ship, thus affording greater security and support to the masts, as well as to prevent the shrouds from damaging the gunwale, or being hurt by rubbing against it.
Of course they are respectively designated fore, main, and mizen.
They are now discontinued in many ships, the eyes being secured to the timber-heads, and frequently within the gunwale to the stringers or lower shelf-pieces above the water-way.
--_In the chains_, applies to the leadsman who stands on the channels between two shrouds to heave the hand-lead.
CHAIN-SHOT.
Two balls connected either by a bar or chain, for cutting and destroying the spars and rigging of an enemy's ship.
CHAIN-SLINGS.
Chains attached to the sling-hoop and mast-head, by which a lower yard is hung.
Used for boat or any other slings demanded.
CHAIN-STOPPER.
There are various kinds of stoppers for chain-cables, mostly acting by clamping or compression.
CHAIN, TOP.
A chain to sling the lower yards in time of battle, to prevent them from falling down when the ropes by which they are hung are shot away.
CHAIN-WELL, OR LOCKER.
A receptacle below deck for containing the chain-cable, which is passed thither through the deck-pipe.
CHALAND.
A large flat-bottomed boat of the Loire.
CHALDERS.
Synonymous with _gudgeons_ of the rudder.
CHALDRICK.
An Orkney name for the sea-pie (_Haematopus ostralegus_).
CHALDRON.
A measure of coals, consisting of 36 bushels; a cubic yard = 19 cwts.
19 lbs.
CHALINK.
A kind of Massoolah boat.
CHALK, TO.
To cut.
--_To walk one's chalks_, to run off; also, an ordeal for drunkenness, to see whether the suspected person can move along the line.
"Walking a deck-seam" is to the same purpose, as the man is to proceed without overstepping it on either side.
CHALKS.
Marks.
"Better by chalks:" wagers were sometimes determined by he who could reach furthest or highest, and there make a chalk-mark.
--_Long chalks_, great odds.
CHALLENGE.
The demand of a sentinel to any one who approaches his post.
Also, the defiance to fight.
CHAMADE.
To challenge attention.
A signal made by beat of drum when a conference is desired by the enemy on having matter to propose.
It is also termed beating a parley.
CHAMBER, OR CHAMBER-PIECE.
A charge piece in old ordnance, like a _paterero_, to put into the breech of a gun prepared for it.
(_See_ MURDERER.
) Used by the Chinese, as in _gingals_ (which see).
CHAMBER OF A MINE.
The seat or receptacle prepared for the powder-charge, usually at the end of the gallery, and out of the direct line of it; and, if possible, tamped or buried with tight packing of earth, &c. , to increase the force of explosion.
CHAMBER OF A PIECE OF ORDNANCE.
The end of the bore modified to receive the charge of powder.
In mortars, howitzers, and shell-guns, they are of smaller diameter than the bore, for the charges being comparatively small, more effect is thus expected.
The gomer chamber (which see) is generally adopted in our service.
In rifled guns the powder-chamber is not rifled; it and the bullet-chamber differ in other minute respects from the rest of the bore.
Patereroes for festive occasions are sometimes called chambers; as the small mortars, formerly used for firing salutes in the parks, termed also pint-pots from their shape and handles.
CHAMBERS.
Clear spaces between the riders, in those vessels which have floor and futtock riders.
CHAMFER.
The cutting or taking off a sharp edge or angle from a plank or timber.
It is also called camfering.
CHAMPION.
The great champion of England, who at the coronation of the sovereign throws down his gauntlet, and defies all comers.
Held at the coronations of George IV.
, William IV.
, and Victoria, by a naval officer, a middy in 1821. CHANCERY, IN.
When a ship gets into irons.
(_See_ IRONS.
) CHANCY.
Dangerous.
CHANDLER, SHIP.
Dealer in general stores for ships.
CHANGE.
In warrantry, is the voluntary substitution of a different voyage for a merchant ship than the one originally specified or agreed upon, an act which discharges the insurers.
(_See_ DEVIATION.
) CHANGEY-FOR-CHANGEY.
A rude barter among men-of-war's men, as bread for vegetables, or any "swap."
CHANNEL.
In hydrography, the fair-way, or deepest part of a river, harbour, or strait, which is most convenient for the track of shipping.
Also, an arm of the sea, or water communication running between an island or islands and the main or continent, as the British Channel.
In an extended sense it implies any passage which separates lands, and leads from one ocean into another, without distinction as to shape.
CHANNEL-BOLTS.
The long bolts which pass through all the planks, and connect the channel to the side.
CHANNEL-GROPERS.
The home-station ships cruising in the Channel; usually small vessels to watch the coast in former times, and to arrest smugglers.
CHANNEL-GROPING.
The carrying despatches, and cruising from port to port in soundings.
CHANNEL-PLATES.
_See_ CHAIN-PLATES.
CHANNEL-WALES.
Strakes worked between the gun-deck and the upper deck ports of large ships.
Also, the outside plank which receives the bolts of the chain-plates.
The wale-plank extends fore and aft to support the channels.
CHANTICLEER.
A name in the Frith of Forth for the dragonet or gowdie (_Callionymus lyra_).
The early or vigilant cock, from which several English vessels of war have derived their names.
CHAP.
A general term for a man of any age after boyhood; but it is not generally meant as a compliment.
CHAPE.
The top locket of a sword scabbard.
CHAPELLING A SHIP.
The act of turning her round in a light breeze, when she is close hauled, without bracing the head-yards, so that she will lie the same way that she did before.
This is commonly occasioned by the negligence of the steersman, or by a sudden change of the wind.
CHAPLAIN.
The priest appointed to perform divine service on board ships in the royal navy.
CHAPMAN.
A small merchant or trader; a ship's super-cargo.
CHAR.
A fine species of trout taken in our northern lakes.
CHARACTERS.
Certain marks invented for shortening the expression of mathematical calculations, as +, -, x, /, =, : :: :, [sq], &c. CHARGE.
The proportional quantity of powder and ball wherewith a gun is loaded for execution.
The rules for loading large ordnance are: that the piece be first cleaned or scoured inside; that the proper quantity of powder be next driven in and rammed down, care however being taken that the powder in ramming be not bruised, because that weakens its effect;
that a little quantity of paper, lint, or the like, be rammed over it, and then the ball be intruded.
If the ball be red hot, a tompion, or trencher of green wood, is to be driven in before it.
Also, in martial law, an indictment or specification of the crime of which a prisoner stands accused.
Also, in evolutions, the brisk advance of a body to attack an enemy, with bayonets fixed at the charge, or firmly held at the hip.
Also, the command on duty, every man's office.
--_A ship of charge_, is one so deeply immersed as to steer badly.
--_To charge a piece_, is to put in the proper quantity of ammunition.
CHARGER.
The horse ridden by an officer in action; a term loosely applied to any war-horse.
CHARITY-SLOOPS.
Certain 10-gun brigs built towards the end of Napoleon's war, something smaller than the 18-gun brigs; these were rated sloops, and scandal whispers "in order that so many commanders might charitably be employed."
CHARLES'S WAIN.
The seven conspicuous stars in Ursa Major, of which two are called the pointers, from showing a line to the pole-star.
CHART, OR SEA-CHART.
A hydrographical map, or a projection of some part of the earth's superficies _in plano_, for the use of navigators, further distinguished as plane-charts, Mercator's charts, globular charts, and the bottle or current chart, to aid in the investigation of surface currents (all which see).
A selenographic chart represents the moon, especially as seen by the aid of photography and Mr. De la Rue's arrangement.
CHARTER.
To charter a vessel is to take her to freight, under a charter-party.
The charter or written instrument by which she is hired to carry freight.
CHARTERED SHIP.
One let to hire to one or more, or to a company.
A
_general_ ship is where persons, unconnected, load goods.
CHARTERER.
The person hiring or chartering a ship, or the government or a company by their agents.
CHARTER-PARTY.
The deed or written contract between the owners and the merchants for the hire of a ship, and safe delivery of the cargo; thus differing from a bill of lading, which relates only to a portion of the cargo.
It is the same in civil law with an indenture at the common law.
It ought to contain the name and burden of the vessel, the names of the master and freighters, the place and time of lading and unlading, and stipulations as to demurrage.
The charter-party is dissolved by a complete embargo, though not by the temporary stopping of a port.
It is thus colloquially termed a pair of indentures.
CHASE, TO.
To pursue a ship, which is also called giving chase.
--_A
stern chase_ is when the chaser follows the chased astern, directly upon the same point of the compass.
--_To lie with a ship's fore-foot in a chase_, is to sail and meet with her by the nearest distance, and so to cross her in her way, as to come across her fore-foot.
A ship is said to have a good chase when she is so built forward or astern that she can carry many guns to shoot forwards or backwards; according to which she is said to have a good forward or good stern chase.
Chasing to windward, is often termed chasing in the wind's eye.
CHASE.
The vessel pursued by some other, that pursuing being the chaser.
This word is also applied to a receptacle for deer and game, between a forest and a park in size, and stored with a larger stock of timber than the latter.
CHASE, BOW.
Cannon situated in the fore part of the ship to fire upon any object ahead of her.
Chasing ahead, or varying on either bow.
CHASE OF A GUN.
That part of the conical external surface extending from the moulding in front of the trunnions to that which marks the commencement of the muzzle; that is, in old pattern guns, from the ogee of the second reinforce, to the neck or muzzle astragal.
CHASE-GUNS.
Such guns as are removed to the chase-ports ahead or astern, if not pivot-guns.
CHASE-PORTS.
The gun-ports at the bows and through the stern of a war-ship.
CHASER.
The ship which is pursuing another.
CHASE-SIGHT.
Where the sight is usually placed.
CHASE-STERN.
The cannon which are placed in the after-part of a ship, pointing astern.
CHASSE MAREES.
The coasting vessels of the French shores of the Channel;
generally lugger-rigged; either with two or three masts, and sometimes a top-sail; the hull being bluffer when used for burden only, are thus distinguished from luggers.
They seldom venture off shore, but coast it.
CHATHAM.
_See_ CHEST OF CHATHAM.
CHATS.
Lice.
Also lazy fellows.
CHATTA, OR CHATTY.
An Indian term for an earthen vessel sometimes used for cooking.
