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.--_Comes up_, with the helm. A close-hauled ship comes up (to her course) as the wind changes in her favour. To _come up with_ or overhaul a vessel chased.--_Come up the capstan._ Is to turn it the contrary way to that which it was heaving, so as to take the strain off, or slacken or let out some of the cablet or rope which is about it.--_Come up the tackle-fall._ Is to let go.--_To come up_, in ship-building, is to cast loose the forelocks or lashings of a sett, in order to take in closer to the plank.
COMING-HOME. Said of the anchor when it has been dropped on bad holding ground, or is dislodged from its bed by the violence of the wind and sea, and is dragged along by the vessel, or is tripped by insufficient length of cable.--_Coming round on her heel._ Turning in the same spot.--_Coming the old soldier._ Petty man[oe]uvring.--_Coming-up glass._ (_See_ DOUBLE-IMAGE MICROMETER.)
COMITY. A certain _comitas gentium_, or judgment of tribunals, having competent jurisdiction in any one state, are regarded in the courts of all other civilized powers as conclusive. Especially binding in all prize matters, however manifestly unjust may be the decision. (_See_ JUDGMENT.)
COMMAND. The words of command are the terms used by officers in exercise or upon service. All commands belong to the senior officer. Also, in fortification, the height of the top of the parapet of a work above the level of the country, or above that of another work. Generally, one position is said to be commanded by another when it can be seen into from the latter.
COMMANDANT. The officer in command of a squadron, ship, garrison, fort, or regiment.
COMMANDER. An officer in the royal navy, commanding a ship of war of under twenty guns, a sloop of war, armed ship, or bomb-vessel. He was entitled master and commander, and ranked with a major of the army: now simply termed commander, and ranking with lieutenant-colonel, but junior of that rank. The act of the commander is binding upon the interests of all under him, and he is alone responsible for costs and damages: he may act erroneously, and abandon what might have turned out good prize to himself and crew.--_Commander_ is also the name of a large wooden mallet used specially in the sail and rigging lofts, as anything of metal would injure the ropes or canvas.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. The senior officer in any port or station appointed to hold command over all other vessels within the limits assigned to him. Thus the commodore on the coast of Africa is, _de facto_, commander-in-chief, free from the interference of any other authority afloat.
COMMAND-OF-MIND MEN. Steady officers, who command coolly.
COMMEATUS, OR PROVISIONS, going to the enemy's ports, subject only to _pre_-emption, a right of purchase upon reasonable terms, but previously liable to confiscation (Robinson). _Commeatus_, in admiralty law, is a general term, signifying drink as well as eatables.
COMMERCE. Was not much practised by the Romans. The principal objects of their water-carriage were the supply of corn, still termed _annona_, and the tribute and spoils of conquered countries.