Sailor's Word-book, A - C — Co - Comm
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.
COLLOP.
A cut from a joint of meat.
"Scotch collops."
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.
COMBUSTION.
Burning, &c. (_See_ SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
) COME NO NEAR!
The order to the helmsman to steer the ship on the course indicated, and not closer to the wind, while going "full and by."
--_Come on board, sir.
_ An officer reporting himself to his superior on returning from duty or leave.
--_Come to.
_ To bring the ship close to the wind.
--_Come to an anchor.
_ To let go the anchor.
--_Come up!
_ with a rope or tackle, is to slack it off.
