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.