Chapter L: L, the deck-transom (5)

BAJOU, or BAJON, a sort of tiller.

BAISSER, to fall down with the tide, to drive or be carried along,
according to the course of the stream.

BAISSER _le pavillon_. See AMENER.

BAISSER _les voiles_, to lower the sails.

BALAI _du ciel_, the sweeper of the sky; a name given by sailors to
the north-west winds of America, which always bring clear weather.

BALANCIER _de lampe_, the rings by which the lamp is slung in the
binacle.

BALANCIERS _de compas_, or _de boussole_, the gimbals of a
sea-compass, by which it is hung in equilibrio.

BALANCINES, or VALANCINES, lifts of the yards.

BALANCINE _de chaloupe_, the topping-lift of a boat.

BALANT, the bight or slack part of a rope, also the part which is
unemployed.

BALAST. See LEST.

BALAYEUR _d’un navire_, the swabber or sweeper of a ship, usually
called captain-swabber.

BALCONS, the galleries framed in the stern or quarter of a great ship.

BALISE, a sea-mark, the beacon or buoy of a shoal or dangerous
channel.

BALOIRES, a name sometimes given to water-lines, and to horizontal
ribbands. See LIGNE _d’eau_.

BALON, a sort of galley or barge of Siam.

BANC, a sand-bank; also the bench, thwart, or beam of a boat.

BANC _à s’asseoir_, the seats or benches placed in the stern-sheets of
a boat or small vessel.

BANC _à coucher_, a sort of folding bed-stead, or settee-bed.

BANCS _de rameurs_, the thwarts or seats of the rowers in a galley or
row-boat.

BANCHE, a ridge or reef of rocks, under the surface of the water.

BANDE, the side of a ship; also a coast, or the side of a river. Hence

BANDE _du nord_, the northern shore, &c.

_Avoir son vaisseau à la_ BANDE, to have his ship laid on the careen.

BANDE _de sabords_, a tier of gun-ports on one side of a ship.

BANDER _une voile_, to line a sail at the edges in order to strengthen
it.

BANDIERES, the flag or colours: this term is peculiar to the gallies.

BANDINS, a sort of stancheons or small pillars, ornamented with
sculpture, and used to support the after-canopy or awning of a
row-galley.

BANDOULIERE, a cartridge-box for musquetry, used by the marines or
others who fight with small arms.

BANNEAU. See BOUÉE.

BANNIERE, a Levantine term for the colours. See BANDIERE.

BANQUE, a banker, or vessel which fishes on the banks of Newfoundland,
&c.

BANQUETTES, the stretchers of a galley or row-boat.

BAPTEME, the ceremony of ducking a sailor the first time he passes the
line, or tropics, from which he may be redeemed by paying a certain
forfeit. Hence

BAPTISER, to duck, &c.

BAPTISER _un vaisseau_, to give a ship her name at the time of
launching.

BARAT, or BARATERIE, the forfeiture or fine paid by the master of a
ship and his crew, for embezzling part of the cargo, or suffering it
to be damaged by neglect of stowage, &c.

BARBE. See SAINTE-BARBE.

BARBES _d’un vaisseau_, the entrance or fore-foot of a ship.

BARBEYER, to touch or shiver; expressed of a sail when shaking in the
wind.

BARCES, a short cannon, resembling a falconet, formerly used at sea.

BARCO-LONGO, a Spanish coasting-boat.

BARDIS, water-boards or weather-boards.

BARDIS also implies the partitions occasionally formed in the hold to
separate different species of grain, when the ship is laden
therewith, &c.

BARGE, an old word for skiff or yawl.

BARIL, BARILLAGE, BARIQUE, small casks of different sizes.

BARIL _de poudre_, a powder cask, containing an hundred pounds of
gun-powder.

BARILLARD, the steward, or officer who has charge of the wine and
water on board of a vessel. This term is peculiar to the galleys.

BARIQUES _a feu_, or _foudroyantes_, thundering-barrels, or casks
which contain the fire-pots in a fire ship.

BARQUE, a settee, or three-masted vessel with lateen sails.

BARQUE _à eau_, a watering-boat, or vessel employed for carrying
water.

BARQUE _d’avis_, an advice-boat.

BARQUE _de descente_, a sort of lighter.

BARQUE _de vivandier_, a provision-boat, a bumboat.

BARQUE _droite_, the order to trim the boat upright, when she heels.

BARQUE _en fagot_, a boat in frame, an assemblage of all the pieces of
a boat, ready formed and put on board a ship, in order to build her
at the place where she may be required.

BARQUE _longue_, or _double chaloupe_, a sort of pinnace, or large
long-boat.

BARQUEROLES, BARQUETTE, or BARCANETTE, a sort of passage boats.

BARRE, the bar of a harbour; also a chain of rocks.

BARRE _à bord_, hard over; the order to put the helm close to the
ship’s side.

BARRE _d’arcasse_, a transom. See LISSE _de hourdi_.

BARRE _de gouvernail_, the tiller of the helm.

BARRE _de gouvernail toute à bord_, the whole force of the helm when
the tiller is hard a-starboard, or hard a-port.

_Change la_ BARRE, the order to the steersman to shift the helm.

_Pousse la_ BARRE _à arriver_, no nearer, put the helm a-weather.

_Pousse la_ BARRE _à venir au vent_, luff, or keep your luff.

BARRE _de pompe_, the pump-spear.

BARRE _de pont_, the deck-transom, parallel to the wing-transom.

BARRER, to secure; as, BARRER _un port_, to secure or defend a
harbour, by fixing a boom across the mouth of it.

BARRES, the booms or chains fixed across a harbour, to secure it from
the assaults of an enemy.

BARRES _de cabestan_, the bars of the crab or capstern.

BARRES _de contre-arcasse_, or _sous-barres d’arcasse_, the lower
transoms.

BARRES _d’écoutille_, the hatch-bars.

BARRES _de hune_, _barreaux_, or _tesseaux_, the frames of the
cross-trees and tressel-trees.

BARRES _de panneaux d’écoutille_, the carlings, or ledges placed
athwart under the hatchways.

BARRES _de porte_, the gun-port bars, by which their covers are
fastened in.

BARRES _de virevaut_, the hand-spikes, or bars of the windlass.

BARRILLARD. See BARILLARD.

BARROTE, full to the beams; an epithet given to a vessel which is
laden up to the beams of her deck. Whence

BARROTER, to lade a ship, &c.

BARROTS, the beams of the higher decks.

BARROTINS, ledges, or small spars, placed between the beams.

BARROTINS _de caillebotis_, ledges of the gratings.

BARROTINS _d’écoutilles_, the spurs of the beams, or the pieces which
are joined to the beams to fortify the deck a-breast of the
hatchways.

BAS _de soie_, iron-garters; a cant term applied to bilboes or
fetters.

BAS _du vaisseau_, the lower parts of a ship.

BAS _le pavillon_, haul down the colours.

BASBORD, the larboard or left side of a ship.

_Vaisseau de_ BASBORD, a low-built vessel, whose deck extends not to
her whole length.

BASBORD _tout_, hard a-port; the order to put the helm close to the
larboard side.

BASBORDES or BASBORDUIS, the larboard-watch.

BASE _des sabords_, the plank between the lower edges of the gun-ports
and the wale.

BAS-FOND, a shoal or shallow.

BASSE, or BATURE, a ridge of rocks, sand-banks, &c. with breakers.

BASSE _eau_, low-water, the last of the ebb.

BASSES _voiles_, the courses, or principal lower sails, of a ship.

BASSIN, a basin or bason; also a small harbour within a larger one.

BASTARD _de racage_, the parrel-rope.

BASTARDE, the largest sail of a galley, which is only carried in fair
weather and light winds.

BASTARDES, or BATARDELLES, square-sterned row-gallies.

BASTINGUAGE, painted quarter-cloths, or waist-cloths; also the
quarter-nettings, &c.

BASTUDE, a peculiar sort of fishing-net.

BATAILLE _navale_, a general or particular sea fight.

BATARDEAU, a sort of dam.

BATAYOLLES, the quarter-stanchions, or the stanchions which support
the rails of the waist and quarter.

BATAYOLETTES, small stanchions, used to sustain the awnings.

BATEAU, a general name for several kinds of boats; as

BATEAU _délesteur_, a ballast-boat, or lighter.

BATEAU _pêcheur_, a fishing-boat, &c.

BATELÉE, the lading, or number of passengers, to be carried in a boat.

BATELIERS, the boat-men, the wherry-men.

BATIMENT, a vessel or small ship of any kind.

BATON _astronomique_, Jacob’s staff; an instrument formerly used for
taking altitudes at sea.

BATON _à meche_, a lint-stock. See Boute-feu.

BATON _de flamme_, the stick which spreads the inner part of a
pendant.

BATON _de giroüette_, the spindle upon which the vane turns, at the
mast-head.

BATON _de justice_, a cobbing-board.

BATON _de pavillon_, or _d’enseigne_, the flag-staff, or ensign-staff.

BATON _de vadel_, or _de guispon_, the handle of a long tar-brush, or
pitch-mop.

BATONNÉE _d’eau_, the quantity of water thrown out by the pump at each
stroke of the brake or handle.

BATTANT _de pavillon_, the fluttering or waving of an ensign, as it
flies in the wind.

BATTERIE, the whole range of cannon placed on both sides of any one
deck in a vessel of war,

BATTERIE _& demie_, a deck and a half of cannon; spoken of a frigate
which carries cannon on her upper-deck and quarter-deck only.

_Mettez la_ BATTERIE _de hors_, run the guns out.

_Mettez la_ BATTERIE _dedans_, run in the guns.

BATTRE _aux champs_, to found a march or chase at sea.

BATTRE _à Diane_, to beat a reveille on the drum, as at day-break.

BATTRE _la marche_, to give the signal for sailing.

BATTU, weather-beaten, shattered by a storm, or disabled in battle.

BATTURE. See BASSE.

BAU, abeam of the lower-decks.

BAU _de dale_, the hindermost or aftmost beam.

BAU _de lof_, the foremost beam in a ship.

BAU-_maître_, or _Maître_-BAU, the midship-beam, or the beam which is
placed at the extreme breadth.

BAUX-_faux_, or _Faux_-BAUX, beams of the orlop.

BAUDET, a sawyer’s frame, horse, or tresle.

BAUQUIERES, the clamps, or inner planks, by which the beams of a ship
rest upon her sides.

BAYE, a bay, or bight.

BAYES, or BAIES, _d’un vaisseaux_, the holes in the deck through which
the masts are let down, called also the partners.

BEAUPRÉ, the bowsprit. Whence

_Petit_ Beaupré, the jib-boom, or sprit-sail top-mast.

BEAUPRÉ _sur pouppe_, close behind; spoken of one ship which is so
near to the stern of another, in chase or otherwise, that the
bowsprit of the former hangs over the stern of the latter.

BEC _de corbin_, a caulker’s sharp iron, or instrument, with which he
cuts the old oakum out of a seam.

BÉLANDRE, a small vessel, carrying about eighty tons, and usually
navigated by three or four men. This is nowise like the English
bilander.

BELLE, the main-deck, or waist. See EMBELLE.

BERCEAUX. See BIGOT.

BERCHE. See BARCES.

BERGE, a bold shore; also an artificial mound, or rampire, on the
banks of a river, to prevent it from overflowing.

BERNE, a waft of the ensign.

_Mettre le pavillon en_ BERNE, to hoist the ensign with a waft.

BESSON, the arching or convexity of the beams and decks. See TONTURE.

BESTION, the head, or ornamental figure, on the prow of a ship.

BIDON, or CANETTE, a cann.

BIGOTS, the ribs of a parrel. See RACAGE.

BIGUES, certain props, or shoars, let into the ports of a ship, to
bear her up when she rests upon the ground; also the masts of a
sheer-hulk.

BILLE, the beckets of the tacks and sheets.

BILLER, to fasten a rope to a boom, in order to ride or tow a boat.

BILLOTS, dead-wood, or short pieces of timber laid upon the keel,
between the crotches, afore and abaft. See CONTRE-QUILLE.

BISCUIT, biscuit, sea-bread.

BISE, _vent de nord-nord-est_, the north-north-east wind.

BISTORD, spun-yarn.

BISTORD _de trois fils_, three-yarn spun-yarn.

BITTES, the bits. Whence

BITTER _le cable_, to bit the cable.

BITTON, a post fixed on a wharf, or pier, whereon to fasten a cable.

BITTONS, or TAQUETS, the top sail-sheet bits.

BITTURE, a range of the cable drawn upon the deck, ready for bitting.

BLEU, a temporary or acting officer, who performs the duty of another
while sick or absent.

BLIN, a machine used to drive the wedges under a ship’s bottom, when
she is to be launched.

BLOCQUER, or BLOQUER. See PLOCQUER.

BOIS, wood or timber.

BOITE _du gouvernail_, the rudder-case, or the box placed above the
rudder-head, upon deck, through which the tiller passes.

BOMBARDE, a bomb-vessel, a ketch.

BOMBÉ, incurvated; an epithet given by shipwrights to crooked timber,
fit for knees, crotches, or standards.

BOMERIE, bottomry.

BON-FRAIS, a fresh of wind, or fresh gale.

BONNACE, calm weather, with a smooth sea.

BONNE _de nage_, swift of rowing, a fine rower.

BONNE-VOGLIE, a volunteer-rower in the gallies.

BONNEAU, a buoy. See BOUÉE and ORIN.

BONNETTE, the bonnet of a sail.

BONNETTE _lardée_. a bag or basket charged with cinders, ashes, and
chopped oakum, to be used in the act of FOTHERING, which see.

_Lasser la_ BONNETTE, to fasten the bonnet of a sail to its principal
part.

BONNETTES, _en étui_, a general name for all studding-sails.

BON-TOUR, a favourable swing or turn; expressed of a ship when she
keeps her hawse clear by winding the right way.

BORD, board, or aboard.

_Renverser_, _tourner_, _changer le_ BORD, to veer or tack.

_Rendre le_ BORD, to anchor, to come to an anchor.

BORD _à bord_, along-side; spoken of two ships lying near to each
other.

BORD _allongé_, or _qui allonge_, a-long board; understood of a vessel
plying to windward.

BORD _à terre_, BORD _au large_, standing in, or off, shore.

BORD _de la mer_, the sea-coast or shore.

BORD _sur bord_, tack for tack, hank for hank.

_Faire un_ BORD, to make a tack.

_Bon_ BORD, a good board.

_Courir même_ BORD _que l’ennemi_, to stand on the same tack with the
enemy.

BORDAGE, the planks of a ship’s side. Hence

_Franc_ BORDAGE, the outside planks.

BORDAGES _de fond_, the planks of the bottom or floor.

BORDAGES _pour recouvrir les ponts_, the planks of the decks.

BORDAYER, to advance to windward by boards, or by tacking.

BORDE _au vent, &_ BORDE _sous le vent_, haul aft the sheets.

BORDÉE, a board or tack; also a watch of part of the crew.

_Faire la grande_ BORDÉE, to set a watch of half the ship’s crew, when
in any dangerous road, usually called the sea-watch.

_Faire la petite_ BORDÉE, to set the quarter-watch.

BORDÉE _de canon_, all the guns on one side of a ship, usually called
a broadside.

_Envoyer une_ BORDÉE, _donner la_ BORDÉE, to fire the broadside into
an enemy.

BORDER, to plank a ship, or lay on her outside planks; also to stand
towards, examine, or observe the motions of an enemy at sea.

BORDER _& brasser au vent_, to trim the sails by the wind.

BORDER _à quein_, to plank a ship with clench-work, or plank over
plank.

BORDER _en louvelle_, to lay on the planks level, or with their
surfaces even.

BORDER _l’artimon_, to haul the mizen-sheet flat aft, or close aft.

BORDER _les avirons_, to ship the oars ready for rowing.

BORDER _les écoutes arrieres_, to haul aft both sheets of a sail, for
going afore the wind.

BORDER _les écoutes tout plat_, to tally the sheets flat aft.

BORDER _un vaisseau_, to board or enter a ship, either in a hostile or
friendly manner.

BORDER _une voile_, to trim a sail by the tacks and sheets.

BORDIER, lap-sided; expressed of a ship stronger on one side than the
other.

BORÉAL, _vent_ BOREAL, the northern wind.

BORNAGER, a method of shoving a great boat off from the shore, in a
river, by fixing one end of the setting-pole against her side,
whilst the other bears upon the ground.

BOSPHORE, a streight, or narrow channel; as the Thracian Bosphorus.

BOSSAGE, a name given by shipwrights to crooked timber, fit for knees,
&c.

BOSSE, a powder-flask, used by privateers, in naval engagements.

_Serre_-BOSSE, the shank-painter.

BOSSEMAN, _second contre maître_, the boatswain’s mate.

BOSSER _l’ancre_, to cat the anchor; also to stow the anchor. See
CAPONNER.

BOSSER _le cable_, to stopper the cable. From

BOSSES _à aiguilettes_, or _à rubans_, stoppers of the cable.

BOSSES, stoppers of the shrouds or stays.

BOSSES _de chaloupe_, or _de canot_, the boat’s painter or
mooring-rope.

BOSSE _du bossoir_, or _de lout_, the anchor-stoppers at the cat-head.

BOSSOIRS, the cat heads of a ship.

BOT, a boat, of several kinds. Whence

_Paque_-BOT, pacquet-boat, the packet, or packet-boat.

BOUCHE, the mouth of a river. _Bouchaut_ is also sometimes used in
this sense.

BOUCHE _de canon_, the bore or calibre of a piece of ordnance.

BOUCHIN, the extreme breadth of a ship, from outside to outside.

BOUCHON _d’etoupe, de foin, ou de paille_, the wad of a cannon, formed
of oakum, hay, &c.

BOUCHOTS, a penn, or place enclosed by hurdles, for fishing on the
sea-coast.

BOUCLE, shackles or bilboes.

_Mettre un matelot sous_ BOUCLE, to confine a sailor, or put him in
irons.

_Un port_ BOUCLÉ, a harbour which is land-locked.

BOUDINURE _de l’arganeau_, the puddening of the anchor. See
EMBODINURE.

BOUÉE, a buoy.

BOUÉE _de bout de mât_, a wooden buoy, formed of an end of a mast.

BOUÉE _de barril_, a cann-buoy, or nun-buoy.

BOUGE, incurvated; spoken of a piece of timber; also of the rounding
or convexity of the decks and beams. See TONTURE.

BOUILLAR, a squall, a cloud charged with wind and rain.

BOUILLONEMENT, the rippling of a river, as it is discharged into the
ocean.

BOULETS, balls or bullets of a cannon. Whence

BOULETS _rouge_, red-hot bullets. BOULETS _à chaîne_, chain-shot.
BOULETS _à branches_, or _à deux têtes_, bar or double-headed shot.

BOULIER, a sort of fishing-net.

BOULINE, the bowline. BOULINE _de la grand voile_, the main bowline.

BOULINE _de revers_, the lee bowline.

_Faire courir la_ BOULINE, to run the gauntlope.

BOULINER. See ALLER _à la bouline_.

BOULINGUE, the royal-sail.

BOULINIER, a ship that sails close-hauled. Hence _bon_ BOULINIER
signifies a ship that plies well to windward.

BOULON, an iron bolt. See CHEVILLE.

BOULONS _d’afut_, the bolts of the gun-carriages.

BOUQUE, an entrance or channel between islands or in narrow seas.

BOUQUETS, the fore-thwarts or fore-sheets of a boat.

BOURCER _un voile_, to carry a sail clewed up, or hauled up in the
brails. See CARGUER.

BOURCET, a name given to the fore-sail and fore-mast of small vessels
in the English Channel.

BOURGEOIS, the proprietor or owner of a ship.

BOURGEOIS is also the person who bargains with a shipwright to build a
ship, called the contractor or ship’s husband.

BOURGUIGNON, an island of ice.

BOURRASQUE, a violent squall of wind.

BOURRE, the wadding of a charge in artillery.

BOURRELET, or BOURLET, the puddenings of the yards.

BOURRELET _de canon_, the muzzle-ring of a piece of cannon.

BOURSE, or BOURCE, the exchange, or place of resort for merchants,
mariners, &c. in a commercial sea-port.

BOUSSOLE, COMPAS _de route_, or CADRAN _de mer_, the sea compass.

BOUSSOLE _affolée_, an erroneous or defective compass. See AFFOLÉE.

BOUSSOLE _de cadran_, an horizontal dial, with a magnetical needle.

BOUT _de beaupré_, a boom used for a bowsprit in small vessels.

BOUT _de corde_, a rope’s end, a short piece of rope.

BOUTS _de cable_, pieces of junk, or old cable.

BOUTS _de corde_, a cat of nine tails, scourge, or rope’s end for
punishment.

BOUT _de vergue_, the yard-arm, but more particularly that part of it
which reaches beyond the upper corners of its respective sail, to
extend the reef.

BOUTE-DEHORS, the studding-sail booms: this name is also given to a
small mast erected in the tops, to hoist up and fix the caps on the
mast-heads.

BOUTE-DEHORS is likewise a boom to push off some ship which is near,
or which approaches for any hostile purpose, as to board, &c.

BOUTE _de lof_, or BOUTE-LOF, the bumkin, or boom of the fore tack.

BOUTE-FEU, a lint-stock; also the name of an officer who is appointed
to fire the cannon.

BOUTE-LOF. See BOUTE _de lof_.

BOUTE _le cable au cabestan & vire l’ancre_, bring the cable to the
capstern, or bring-to the cable, and heave to the anchor.

BOUTEILLES, the quarter-badges of a ship. See BALCON.

BOUTEILLES _de callebasse_, bundles of buoyant rushes, used in the
exercise of learning to swim.

BOUTER, to bear off, to push, to join, &c.

BOUTER _à l’eau_, to launch into the water, to put to sea.

BOUTER _au large_, to stand out into the offing.

BOUTER _de lof_, to haul the wind, to trim sharp.

BOUTES, large casks, which hold fresh water for the use of a
sea-voyage.

BOUTEUX, or BOUT _de quevre_, a sort of fishing rod.

BOUTONNER _la bonette_, to lash on the bonnets. See BONNETTE.

BOUVET, a sort of plane used by shipwrights to form a small groove.

BOYE, See BOUÉE or BALISE.

BOYER, a kind of Dutch sloop.

BRAGUE, the breeching of a cannon used at sea.

BRAI, pitch. Hence _braier un vaisseau_, to pay the seams of a ship
with hot melted pitch, after they are caulked with oakum. It is
sometimes mixed with other compositions, to nourish the timber, and
is then called BRAI _gras_.

BRANCHE _de ciprès_, beaconage; a small duty paid by shipping in
France, for keeping the beacons in repair.

BRANCHE _superieure d’une courbe_, the upper part of a knee.

BRANCHE _d’embas_, the lower arm of a knee or standard.

BRANLE, a hammock.

_Tendre les_ BRANLES, to sling the hammocks.

BRANLE _bas_, or _fort_ BRANLE, the order to lash and take down all
the hammocks between decks, in order to prepare for engagement, or
otherwise to clear the ship.

BRAS, the brace of a yard.

_Tenir un_ BRAS, to haul in and fasten the brace.

_Bon_ BRAS, braced to a large wind, braced in.

BRAS _de revers_, the lee brace.

BRAS, or BRANCHES _d’ancre_, the anchor-arms.

BRASSE, a fathom, or measure of six feet.

BRASSEIAGE, the quarters of a yard.

BRASSER _à faire porter_, or _à faire servir_ to fill the sails after
they have been braced a back.

BRASSER _au vent_, to brace the sails in, to haul in the weather
braces.

BRASSER _les voiles sur le mât_, to brace the sails a-back, or lay the
sails to the mast. This is also called BRASSER _à contre_. See
COEFFER.

BRASSER _sous le vent_, to brace to leeward, to brace up.

BRAYES, the tarred canvas coats of the mast.

BREDINDIN, a small stay-tackle, or burton, affixed to the main-stay.

BREF, a sort of warrant or commission from the state, allowing a ship
to purchase provisions, conducting her safe on the coast, and
exempting her from other duties.

BREGIN, a sort of fishing-net, with very small meshes, used in the
Mediterranean.

BREQUIN, or _Ville_-BREQUIN, a shipwright’s wimble to bore wood.

BRESSIN, the jears or haliards of a yard or sail; also a tackle-hook.
See PALAN.

BREVET, CONNOISSEMENT, POLICE _de chargement_, a bill of lading.

BREVET _d’officier_, the commission or warrant of an officer.

BREUILLER. See CARGUER.

BREUILS. See CARGUES, MARTINETS, and GARCETTES.

BRIDER _l´ancre_, to bridle the anchor[59].

BRIEUX, a term used in Brittany to express the salutation of striking
the flag, or topsails, to an admiral, &c. Also a duty paid for
entering a harbour.

BRIGANTIN, a small light vessel, navigated by oars and sails; but
differing extremely from the vessel known in England by the name of
brig or brigantine.

BRIMBALE, the brake or handle of a ship’s pump.

BRION, the fore-foot, placed at the extremity of the keel forward.

BRIS, a duty formerly paid to the lord of the coast, by those who
suffered shipwreck thereon. This unjust exaction is now totally
abolished. See DEBRIS.

BRISANT, or BRISANS, a shelf or ridge of rocks nearly level with the
surface of the water, and distinguished by the breakers, or waves
that burst over it; also the breakers themselves.

BRISE, a fresh gale or breeze; the trade-winds, or sea-breezes between
the tropics.

BRISE _carabinée_, a violent wind or squall.

BRISER, to split, or dash forcibly against a rock or shelf; expressed
of a ship when she is stranded.

BRISES, the land-winds which blow during the night in the West Indies,
&c.

BROCHETER, to give the scantlings of the several members or pieces of
a ship’s frame.

BROU, the bark of the cocoa, of which the Indians form the cordage
used in their shipping,

BRUINE, small drizzling rain.

BRULOT, a fire ship.

BRUME, a mist or fog at sea.

_Tems_ EMBRUMÉ, or _couvert de brouillard_, thick misty weather.

BUCENTAURE, a sort of galley used by the state of Venice, when the
doge performs the annual ceremony of espousing the sea.

BUCHE, a herring-buss, or small fly-boat used in the herring-fishery.

BULLETIN, a certificate given to sea-officers and sailors, when they
are registered in a port, to testify their qualities, age,
privileges, and time of service.

BURINS. See TAPPES.

BUTIN, the pillage or plunder of a prize taken from an enemy.

C.

CABANE, a flat-bottomed passage-boat, with a deck, navigated on the
river Loire.

CABANES, the cabins or apartments wherein the officers and sailors
sleep or mess aboard a ship. See TEUGUE.

CABESTAN, the capstern or crab of a ship.

_Virer au_ CABESTAN, to heave the capstern round with bars.

CABILLOT, a toggel; also a wooden pin for belaying ropes.

CABLE, the cable; also a measure of 120 fathoms, called by the English
seamen a cable’s length.

CABLE _à pic_, the situation of the cable when the ship is close
a-peek on her anchor.

CABLE _de touei_, a stream-cable, or large hauser.

CABLE _tourné_, or _qui à un tour_, or _demi-tour_, a foul hause, a
cross or elbow in the hause.

_Bitter le_ CABLE, to bit the cable, or clap it on the bits. See
BITTER.

_Couper_, or _tailler le_ CABLE, to cut the cable in the hause.

_Donner le_ CABLE _à un vaisseau_, to give a cable’s end to another
ship; to take a ship in tow at sea.

_Filer du_ CABLE, to slack out or veer away the cable. See FILER.

_Laisser trainer un_ CABLE _sur le sillage du vaisseau_, to drag a
cable in the ship’s wake in order to prevent her sailing swiftly,
when she is chased by a vessel of inferior force, which is decoyed
by this stratagem within reach of her cannon.

_Lover un_ CABLE, to coil a cable.

CABLEAU, the painter, or mooring-rope of a boat.

CABLER, to make large ropes or cables.

CABOTAGE, the art of a coasting-pilot; as the knowledge of the shore,
the tides, ports, rivers, capes, soundings, &c. on any particular
coast.

CABOTER, to coast, or sail along the shore between cape and cape.

CABOTIERE, a large flat-bottomed lighter, with a long rudder.

CABRE, sheers, a machine resembling the sheers of a ship, used to
heave up pieces of timber on the wharf of a river.

CABRIONS, certain wedges fixed under the train of a gun-carriage, to
secure the cannon when the sea is very high.

CADENE, a chain by which a galley-slave is confined to his oar.

CADENES _de hauban_, the chains of the shrouds, the chain-plates.

CADRE, a bed frame, resembling the frame of a cott, wherein the
sea-officers sleep: these are usually bottomed with small cords by
the French, and slung by the corners without a cott.

CAGE. See HUNE.

CAGOUILLE, a sort of volute or ornament on the extremity of the prow
of polacres, xebecs, tartans, &c.

CAIC, the yawl or skiff of a galley; also a small Polish vessel,
navigated in the Black Sea.

CAIES, a ridge of rocks, or sand-banks; called in the West indies,
keys.

CAILLEBOTIS, the gratings of the hatches.

CAJOLER, to ply to windward with the tide, to work by short tacks.

CAISSE _de poulie_. See ARCASSE and MOUFFLE.

CAJUTES, the cabins which are ranged along the inside of a ship, to
sleep in.

CALANGE, or CALE, a small harbour behind a hill, or rising ground, on
the sea-coast.

CALCETS, the cheeks or hounds of the mast, which support the brazen
blocks in a galley.

CALE, the hold of a ship; also a sloping or shelving on the sea-coast;
likewise the lead of a fishing-line used to sink the bait.

_Donner la_ CALE, to duck or plunge an offender from the yard-arm into
the sea, by way of punishment.

_Donner la grand_ CALE, to keel-haul; a punishment peculiar to the
Dutch.

CALE-BAS, a down-haul, or down-haul tackle.

CALE-HAUBAN, a breast back-stay for the top-mast or top-gallant-mast.

CALER, to sink down in the water; also to founder at sea.

CALER _les voiles_. See AMENER.

CALER also signifies to quoin or wedge up any thing.

CALE-TOUT, let go amain, or at once.

CALFAS, or rather CALFAT, caulking.

CALFAT, or CALFATEUR, a caulker.

CALFAT also signifies a caulking-iron. CALFAT _double_, a making-iron.

CALFATER, to caulk a ship or boat.

CALFATIN, a caulker’s boy, who spins or twists his oakum.

CALIBRE, the bore of a cannon or other fire-arm, or the diameter of a
cannon-ball.

CALIBRE _de vaisseau_, the model of a ship.

CALIORNE, a winding-tackle; a tackle formed by a rope passing through
two three-fold blocks.

CALME, calm, a cessation of wind.

CALME _tout plat_, a dead calm, or a flat calm. Whence

CALMER, to become calm.

CAMBRER, to bend the planks or boards of a ship to their proper curve,
by stoves, &c.

CAMPAGNE _sur mer_, a voyage, a cruise at sea for a season, or limited
space of time.

CANAL, a canal, streight, or channel.

CANAL _de l’étrave_, the concavity in the top of the stem, wherein the
bowsprit rests.

CANAL, or CREUX _autour d’un poulie_, the hole in a block between the
shell and the sheave, through which the rope passes.

CANDELETTE, or BOSSE _de bossoir_, the cat tackle and hook. See
CAPION.

CANEFAS, or CANEVAS, canvas or sail-cloth. See TOILE.

CANON, a cannon or piece of ordnance.

CANON _à la serre_, a gun housed athwart, with the top of its muzzle
bearing against the upper edge of the port.

CANON _alongé contre le bord_, a gun housed lengthways, close to the
ship’s side, abreast of its own port.

CANON _aux sabords_, a gun levelled to the point-blank range.

CANON _de coursier_, the bow-chase of a row-galley.

CANON _demare_, a cannon drawn in to be charged.

CANON _détape_, a cannon with its tompion taken out.

CANON _moindre_, a cannon whose calibre is not proportioned to the
thickness of the metal.

CANON _renforcé_, a cannon whose breech is reinforced, i. e. thicker
than the calibre, which is the usual dimension.

CANONNER, to cannonade, to fire a broadside.

CANONNIER _de vaisseau_, the gunner of a ship.

_Second maître_ CANONNIER, the gunner’s mate.

CANONNIERS, the quarter-gunners or artillery-men of a ship.

CANOT, a ship’s boat, cutter, or yawl.

CANOT _de bois_, a canoe.

CANOT _jaloux_, a crank boat.

CANOTS, Indian canoes of various kinds.

CANTANETTES, the light-ports in the stern of a galley.

CANTIBAI, a name given by shipwrights to timber which is full of
cracks, &c.

CANTIMORON. See CATIMORON.

CAP, the head or prow of a ship.

_Porter le_ CAP _sur l’ennemi_, to bear towards the enemy.

_Ou as-tu le_ CAP? how is the head? how does the ship wind?

CAP, a cape, head-land, or promontory.

_Doubler le_ CAP, to double, or sail round, a cape.

CAP _de more_. See CHOUQUET.

CAP _de mouton_, the dead-eye of a shroud or stay.

CAP _de mouton à croc_, an iron-bound dead-eye, with a hook.

CAP _de mouton de martinet_, the dead-eye of a crow-foot. See
TRELINGAGE.

CAPACITÉ _d’un vaisseau_, the burthen of a ship.

CAPE, or GRAND PACFI, the mainsail.

_Etre à la_ CAPE, to lie-by under the main-sail, or some other of the
courses.

CAPÉER, CAPIER, or CAPEYER, _aller à la cape_, _mettre le vaisseau à
la cape_, to lie under the mainsail when all the other sails are
furled.

CAPELER _les haubans_, to fix the shrouds on the mast-head.

CAPION, the stern-post of a galley. See RODE.

CAPION _de proue_, the stem of a galley.

CAPION _à capion_, from stem to stern.

CAPITAINE _d’un vaisseau de guerre_, the captain of a ship of war.

CAPITAINE _d’armes_, a captain of marines.

CAPITAINE _de frégate legére_, _de brulot_, _de galiote_, a master and
commander.

CAPITAINE _du hautbord_, the captain of a ship of the line.

CAPITAINE _de ports_, the commandant of a detachment of marines,
appointed to guard a dock-yard, and the shipping in the harbour.

CAPITAINE _des matelots_, an officer resembling our captain of the
fore-castle.

CAPITAINE _en second_, the second captain, or first lieutenant, of a
ship of war.

CAPITAINE _garde-côte_, a captain of the militia appointed to guard
the coasts.

CAPITANE, or CAPITAINESSE, a name formerly given to the principal
galley of France.

CAPLANIER, a cod-fisher, a vessel appointed to fish and cure cod; also
the men employed in this service.

CAPON, the cat-tackle.

CAPONNE, the order to cat the anchor.

CAPONNER _l’ancre_, to cat or draw up the anchor to the cat-head.

CAPOSER, to bring a ship to, with her helm a-lee.

_Faire_ CAPOT, to cant, over-set, or turn topsy-turvy.

CAPRE, a vessel of war, or armed ship.

CAQUE _de poudre_, a powder-cask; also a herring-barrel, whence

CAQUEURS, sailors appointed to cure and barrel the herring.

CARACORE, an Indian vessel, peculiar to the island of Borneo.

CARAMOUSSAL, or CARAMOUSSAIL, a merchant-ship of Turky, constructed
with a very high stern.

CARAQUE, a name given by the Portuguese to ships employed in the
Brazil and the East Indian trade.

CARAVELLE, a small square-sterned Portuguese vessel, navigated with
lateen sails; and esteemed very expeditious, and therefore used in
business that requires dispatch.

CARCASSE, the carcase or ribs of a ship before the planks are laid on,
or after they are ripped off.

CARENAGE, a careening wharf.

CARENE, the outside of a ship’s bottom. This word is sometimes used
for the keel.

CARENE _entier_, to heave down a ship keel-out.

_Demie_ CARENE, a parliament-heel, or boot-topping.

CARENER, _donner la carene à un vaisseau_, to careen or heave down a
ship with careening tackles to a wharf or pontoon.

CARGADOR, the person who procures a freight or voyage for a
merchant-ship.

CARGAISON, the cargo, or articles of a ship’s lading.

CARGUE _à veu_, a slab-line.

CARGUER, to clue up a sail, or haul it up in the brails.

CARGUER _l’artimon_, to brail up the mizen.

CARGUER _le point de la voile qui est sous le vent_, to haul up the
lee-clue-garnet, or goose-wing of a sail.

CARGUES, a general name for the brails of a sail, comprehending the
clue-lines, bunt-lines, leech-lines, &c.

CARGUES _d’artimon_, the brails of the mizen.

_Mettre les basses voiles sur les_ CARGUES, to haul up the courses, or
haul the courses up in the brails.

_Mettre les huniers sur les_ CARGUES, to clue up the top-sails.

CARGUES _bouline_, the leech-lines.

CARGUES _de fond_, the bunt-lines.

CARGUES _de hune_. See RETRAITE _de hune_.

CARGUES _dessous le vent_, the lee-brails, _&c._

CARGUES _du vent_, the brails to windward, or weather-brails.

CARGUES _point_, the clue-garnets, or clue-lines.

CARGUEUR, the top-block of a top-gallant-mast.

CARLINGUE, _contre-quille_, the kelson.

CARLINGUE _de cabestan_, the step of the capstern.

CARLINGUE _de pied de mât_, the step of the mast, with its block.

CARNAU, the lateen fore-sail of a settee or polacre.

CARREAU. See LISSE _de platbord_.

CARTAHU, girt-line, or gurt-line.

CARTE _marine_, a chart or map of the sea, representing its banks,
rocks, shoals, bays, havens, &c.

CARTE _plate_, or _au point commun_, the plain chart.

CARTON, a book containing a collection of charts in folio.

CARTOUCHE, a cartridge to contain a charge of powder for a cannon or
other fire-arm.

CATARACTES, water-falls.

CATIMARON, a catamaran, or Indian raft.

CATURS, armed vessels of Bantam.

CAYES, keys, or chains of rocks, nearly even with the surface of the
sea.

CEDRE, _bois de_ CEDRE, cedar-wood, which is excellent for
ship-building.

CEINTES, a name formerly given to the wales. See PERCEINTES and
LISSES.

CENTRE _de pesanteur_, the center of gravity.

CERCLE _d’étambraie_, or _de cabestan_, an iron hoop that lines the
hole of the deck, within which the capstern turns upon its spindle.

CERCLES _de boute-hors_, the studding-sail boom-irons.

CERCLES _de hune_, the top-rails, which formerly surrounded the tops,
when circular.

CERCLES _de pompe_, the iron hoops fixed on the top of the pump, to
strengthen it.

CHABLEAU, a tow-line, a large warp.

CHABLEUR, a water-officer, who has the care of the wherries.

CHAINES _de chaudiere_, the chains of the copper, or kettle, which
boils victuals in the cobose, for the ship’s crew.

CHAÎNES _de port_, the boom or chain of a harbour. See BARRE.

CHAÎNES _de vergues_, the top-chains.

CHALAND, or BAC, a sort of lighter used on the Loire.

CHALINGUE, a light high-built Indian vessel, formed without nails.

CHANDELIER _de fanal_, the iron brace, or crank, with its stool, which
supports the poop-lanthorn.

CHANDELIER _de pierrier_, the iron crutch of a swivel gun; also the
wooden stock, hooped with iron, in whose socket it rests, and is
turned.

CHANDELIERS _de chaloupe_, the crutches of a boat, which sustain the
main-boom, or the mast and sail, when they are lowered, for the
conveniency of rowing.

CHANDELIERS _d’écbelle_, the stancheons which support the entering
ropes at the gangway.

CHANDELIERS _de lisses_, the iron crutches, or double stanchions, of
the quarters, &c. fixed in a vessel of war, to extend the double
nettings. See FILARET.

CHANDELIERS, _de petite batiments_, the crutches on the stern or
quarter of a boom-sail vessel. See CHANDELIERS _de chaloupe_.

CHANGER, in a naval sense, generally implies to tack, shift, or
relieve.

CHANGER _de bord_, to tack or veer. See VIRER _de bord_.

CHANGER _l’artimon_, to shift over the mizen to the other side.

CHANGER _le quart_, to change or relieve the watch.

CHANGER _les voiles_, to shift the sails, to brace about, to jibe.

CHANGER _les voiles d’avant, & les mettre sur le mât_, to brace the
head-sails to the wind, to lay the head-sails to the mast.

CHANTIER, the stocks upon which a ship is laid down to be built.

CHANTIER, or ATTELIER, also signifies a shipwright’s yard or wharf.

CHANVRE, hemp employed to make the sails and cordage of a ship.

CHAPE, the inner box of a sea-compass.

CHAPEAU _de maître_, a gratuity or due, required by the master of a
ship for each ton of goods which his vessel carries.

CHAPELLE, the chapelling of a ship, or suffering her to be taken
aback, so that she cannot recover her course till she has gone quite
round. This seldom happens, unless when the vessel is close-hauled
in light winds, and is usually occasioned by the negligence of the
steersman.

_Faire_, or _prendre_ CHAPELLE, to build a chapel at sea, or chapel a
ship.

CHARGE, the cargo, burthen, or lading of a ship. This is also called
_chargement_.

_Etre_ CHARGÉ _â la côte_, to be upon, or near a lee-shore.

CHARGEOIR, or _lanterne à charger_, a gunner’s ladle.

CHARGER, to load a ship, or take in her cargo.

CHARGER _en grenier_, to load a ship in bulk.

CHARGER _la pompe_, to fetch the pump.

CHARGEUR-MARCHAND, or MARCHAND-CHARGEUR, the merchant who loads a
ship, or freights her to convey a cargo to some distant place.

CHARNIER, a scuttled cask, to contain water for the ship’s crew to
drink on the deck.

CHAROI. See CHARROI.

CHARPENTIER _de navire_, a shipwright; also the carpenter of a ship.

CHARTE-PARTIE, a charter-party, or compact made between the owner of a
ship and the merchant, or contractor, who hires her for a limited
time; also a convention made by a company of merchants who trade
together.

CHASSE, a chase at sea, or flight of one vessel from another who
pursues her.

_Prendre_ CHASSE, to stand away from, to fly from.

_Donner_ CHASSE, or CHASSER, to give chase, to pursue.

_Soutenir_ CHASSE, to make a running fight, to fight in retreat.

CHASSE _de proue_, the head-chase, or bow-chase. See PIECE _de
chasse_.

CHASSER _sur son ancre_, to drag the anchor, to bring the anchor home.

CHAT, a cat; a ship so called.

CHATEAU, a general name for the fore-castle and quarter-deck of a
deep-waisted vessel.

CHATEAU _d’arriere_, or _de pouppe_, the quarter-deck and poop.

CHATEAU _d’avant_, or _de proue_, the forecastle.

CHATTE, a small two-masted vessel, formed like a cat or Norwegian
pink.

CHAUDERON _de pompe_, a plate of lead or copper, perforated with
holes, to cover the bottom of a pump.

CHAUDIERE, the great copper, or kettle, in which the provisions for
the sailors are boiled.

CHAUDIERE _à brai_, or _à goudron_, a pitch-kettle.

CHAUFFAGE, breaming-fuel, furze, or faggots, to burn the dirt from off
a ship’s bottom at the time of breaming.

CHAUFFER, to bream a ship, or burn the filth from off her bottom.

CHAUFFER _les soutes_, to dry or season the bread-room, in order the
better to preserve the biscuit during a sea-voyage.

CHAUFFER _un bordage_, to bend a plank, or make it pliant by heating
it.

CHAVIRER, or TREVIRER, to over-set, capsize, or turn any thing topsy
turvy.

CHAUSSE, a present of money, or wine, given by the merchant to the
master of a trading vessel, partly for himself, and partly to be
distributed amongst the ship’s crew on a proper occasion.

CHEBEC, or CHABEK, a xebeck.

CHEF, the stem or head of a boat.

CHEF is also a junk, or end of a cable, used as an headfast to a ship,
when she is ready to be launched, and which is to retain her after
she floats, till her anchor is carried out, or let fall from the
bow.

CHEF _d’eau_, high-water. See HAUTE _marée_.

CHEF _d’escadre_, a commodore.

CHEMIN, a range of skeeds laid by seamen, to roll full casks upon,
either on shore or aboard.

CHEMIN _du halage_, a path on the side of a river, or canal, for
horses to track boats and vessels along the stream.

CHEMISE _à feu_, or SOUFRÉE, a tarpawling, or a piece of old canvas,
dipped in a composition of oil, petrol, camphire, and other
combustible materials, and nailed to the planks of an enemy’s ship,
when it is intended to set her on fire.

CHENALER, to find out a channel by the help of buoys, or of sounding,
where the water is shallow.

CHENETS, a sort of iron claws used to bend the planks of a ship by
fire.

CHERSONESE, a peninsula.

CHEVALET, a roller for passing the cables from one place to another.

CHEVAUCHER, to ride, or be fayed upon; a term in ship-building.

CHEVET _de traversin de bittes_, the lining or doubling of the bitts,
which is employed to prevent the cable from galling them when the
ships ride with a great strain.

CHEVILLE, an iron bolt, of which there are several sorts used in the
construction of a ship: as,

CHEVILLE _à boucle_, a ring-bolt.

CHEVILLE _à boucles & à goupilles_, a ring which is fastened with a
forelock.

CHEVILLE _à croc_, a hook-bolt for the gun ports.

CHEVILLE _à goupilles_, a forelock-bolt, or bolt fitted to receive a
forelock.

CHEVILLE _à grille & à boucles_. See GOUJON.

CHEVILLE _æilettes d’affut_, the eye-bolts of the gun-carriages.

CHEVILLE _à tête de diamant_, or _à tête ronde_, a round-headed bolt.

CHEVILLE _à tête perdue_, a bolt whose head is sunk into the timber
wherein it is driven.

CHEVILLE _d’offut_, a gun-carriage bolt.

CHEVILLE _de fer à charger le canon_, langrage-shot.

CHEVILLE _de pompe_, the short pump-bolt, or bolt to connect the brake
with the spear.

CHEVILLE _de potence de pompe_, a long pump-bolt, or bolt which
fastens the brake to the cheeks or ears of the pump.

CHEVILLER, to bolt a ship, or drive the bolts which fasten one part to
another.

CHEVILLOTS, belaying-pins, fixed in the rails fore and aft.

CHEVRE, a gin, or triangle with pullies.

CHICAMBAUT, or CHICABAUT, a bumkin. See BOUTE-LOF.

CHICANER _le vent_, to ply or beat to windward. See LOUVIER.

CHIORME, or rather CHIOURME, the troop or crew of slaves belonging to
one row-galley, together with the volunteers who row at the oars.

CHIRURGIEN _major_, the surgeon of a ship.

CHOPINE, or CHOPINETTE _de pompe_, the lower pump-box.

CHOQUER _la tournevire_, to surge the capstern; to lift up the rope
passing round the body of the capstern, that it may not ride while
the capstern turns.

CHOSES _de la mer_, or _du flot_, wreck, or whatever is found floating
at sea, or within certain limits of the sea-coast.

CHOUQUET, a cap of the mast-head.

CHUTE _de voiles_, the depth of the sails.

CIEL _embrumé_, a cloudy, heavy, or dark sky.

CIEL _fin_, fine weather, a clear sky.

CINGLAGE, or SINGLAGE, the run of a ship for twenty-four hours, or the
course and distance she has made between noon and noon.

CINGLAGE also imports the pay or wages of mariners.

CINGLER, or SINGLER, to sail with a favourable wind on a particular
course.

CINQUENELLE, or CINCENELLE, a general name for the tackling of the
great guns, by which they are fastened to the ship’s sides, &c.

CINTRAGE, or CEINTRAGE, a name given to any kind of lashing, or
frapping, which surrounds the object it is intended to secure.

CINTRER, or CEINTRER _un vaisseau quand il largue_, to frap a ship.

CIVADIERE, the sprit-sail.

CLAIRON, a clear spot in a cloudy sky.

CLAMP, a sheave, or small wheel, placed in a mortise, as in the foot
of a top mast, to pass a rope through.

CLAN, a mortise or hole cut in a plank, mast, &c. lengthwise, to admit
a sheave.

CLAN, or CLAMP _de beaupré_. See COUSSIN.

CLAN, a sort of breast-hook in a large lighter.

CLAPET _de pompe_, the clapper of a pump-box.

CLAPETS, leathern flaps nailed on the outside of the scuppers, instead
of scupperhoses.

CLASSE, a division of pilots, gunners, seamen, &c. engaged to serve in
any naval armament for a limited time, after which they are relieved
by another division sent from the shore.

CLAVETTE, or GOUPILLE, a forelock.

CLEF. See CHEF.

CLEF _de beaupré_, or BARROT _de coltis_, the collar-beam, which is
raised a little above the second deck, to fortify the bowsprit.

CLEF _de pierrier_, the forelock of a pedrero or swivel-gun.

CLEF _de pompe_, a sort of wooden pump-bolt, to confine the brake
within the cheeks or ears of the pump. See CHEVILLE _de potence_.

CLEF _des étains_, or _contre-port_, a triangular cheek of timber,
formerly used to connect the fashion-pieces with the stern-post.

CLEF _de ton du mât_, or CLEF _de mât de hune_, the iron or wooden fid
of a top-mast.

CLEFS _des guindas_, the cheeks of the windlas.

CLERC _du guet_, the clerk who assembles and musters the militia
appointed to guard the sea-coast.

CLERCS _de la secretaire_, or _du gresse de l’amirauté_, the
messengers of the admiralty.

CLINCAR, a sort of flat-bottomed clinker-built pram, or lighter, of
Sweden and Denmark.

CLOCHE _de plongeurs_, a diving-bell.

CLOISSON, a range of stanchions to support the bulk-heads, or
partitions, which separate one cabin from another.

CLOPOTEUSE, turbulent or agitated; an epithet given to the sea when it
runs high.

CLOU, an iron spike, or nail, of any size.

CLOUS _à river_, a rivet, or riveting-nail to be clenched at both
ends.

CLOUS _des sabords_, doubling-nails, to line the gun ports.

CO-BOURGEOIS, a co-partner in, or part-owner of, a ship.

COCHES _d’assut de bord_, the notches or steps of a sea-carriage.

COEFFÉ, aback. _Un vaisseau_ COEFFÉ, a ship laid aback.

COEFFER, to back a sail, to lay aback, or to the mast.

COFFRE _à feu_, a powder-chest, fixed on the deck or side of a ship,
to-be discharged upon a boarding enemy.

COFFRE _à gargousses_, a cartridge-chest, which contains the filled
cartridges in a ship’s magazine.

COFFRE _de bord_, a sea-chest, a sailor’s chest.

COINS _d’arrimage_, the quoins or coins used in the stowage of a
ship’s hold, &c.

COINS _de chantier_, the wedges driven between the blocks and the
keel, when a ship is building.

COINS _de mât_, the wedges of a mast, by which it is confined in the
partners, or in the cap.

COITES, the ways, or cradles, upon which a ship gradually descends,
when she is launched into the water.

COITES _de guindas_, the cheeks or bits of the windlas. See CLEF _de
guindas_.

COLLET _d’étai_, the eye of a stay placed over a mast-head.

COLLIER _d’étai_, the collar or lower part of a stay.

COLLIER _du ton_, or _du chouquet_, the iron clamp of a French cap. As
the caps of English vessels are formed wholly of wood, this clamp is
not in use amongst our shipping.

COLLIERS _de défense_, the puddening of a boat’s stem.

COLOMBIERS, two shoars employed to launch a ship into the water.

COLONNE, a line of ships, a line of battle.

COLTIS, the breast or front of a ship’s fore-castle, comprehended
between the two cat-heads athwart, and descending from the top of
the fore-castle to the platform of the head.

COMBAT _naval_, a general or particular sea-fight.

COMBUGER _les sutailles_, to fill the water-casks of a ship with fresh
water.

COMITE, an under-officer of a galley, who commands the slaves.

COMMANDANT, a commodore. See CHEF _d’escadre_.

COMMANDE, holloa! the answer given by the sailors to the master,
boatswain, or other officer, when he calls to them by the name of
the place where they are; as, “Fore-castle, there! main-top, there!
main-top, hoay!” &c.

COMMANDEMENT, the order or command to do any thing relative to the
working of a ship.

COMMANDER _à la route_, to order or direct the course of a ship.

COMMANDES, knittles or seizings.

COMMANDEUR, the master or commander of a ship.

COMMIS, the supercargo of a merchant-vessel.

COMMIS _des bureaux des douanes_, the surveyors of the customs who
visit shipping.

COMMIS _du munitionnaire_, or COMMIS _à la distribution des vivres_, a
clerk or steward to the commissary or purser of a ship of war.

COMMIS _général des convois & congés_, an overseer or inspector of the
customs with regard to shipping.

COMMISSAIRE _de la marine_ imports in general a civil officer, or
commissioner of the marine, of which there are several: as,

COMMISSAIRE _général à la suite des armées navales_, an officer who
receives the orders and instructions of the _intendant_ of a fleet
of men of war, and performs his duty when he is absent. See
INTENDANT _des armées navales_.

COMMISSAIRE _général de la marine_, the principal officer under the
_intendant de marine_, in his department. It is his duty, 1. To
execute the orders of the admiral, or commissioners of the
admiralty, with regard to the number of ships which are ordered to
be taken into the service of the state; to provide for their being
equipped, manned, and victualled, for the expedition to which they
are destined; to press the masters and mates who refuse to serve,
and to break, or disband and return, those who will not do their
duty. 2. To measure the ships which attend a fleet; to give them
orders, either to sail with the fleet, or to join it according to
the regulations which have been made; to keep account of those who
have been discharged from duty, and send them back in due time to
the appointed place. 3. To attend the affairs of the dock-yards and
harbours, and controul the clerks, artificers, and ordinary-men; to
administer the oath of allegiance to them; to review the shipping,
and take an inventory of the prizes. 4. To take care that the oldest
and best seasoned timber is first used; and that the bolts, nails,
and other iron-works, have their due proportions, and conform to
their dimensions. 5. To examine, once every fortnight, the
muster-roll of the artificers, signed by the clerks. 6. To observe
that the master-shipwrights do in nowise depart from the draught
which has been established by the council of construction, of which
he is always possessed of a copy. 7. To inspect whatever concerns
the port, and to take care that the ordonnances relative thereto are
faithfully executed; and to see that the ships are properly
situated, and each one moored in the birth assigned.

It is also the office of the _commissaire général_ to keep a list of
the sea-officers and sailors, able and ordinary; and to minute the
ships in which they have served, and upon what footing they have
been paid. With respect to the youths, officers servants, and other
boys, their names, privileges, and time of service, are enrolled in
a particular list; and each of them is furnished with a certificate,
representing these articles.

The _commissaire général_ is not, however, always charged with these
several employments himself. There are under his department, in
different places, or according to the times, other commissaries, who
share such services with him: as, COMMISSAIRE _ordinaires de la
marine_; COMMISSAIRES _ayant inspection sur les vivres d’un port_,
an agent victualler; COMMISSAIRE _préposé pour l’enrôlement des
matelots_, clerk of the cheque; COMMISSAIRE _pour les constructions
des vaisseaux_; and COMMISSAIRE _des ports_, master-attendant.

COMMISSAIRE _général de la marine ambulant_, an officer whose duty
resembles that of the former, but who has no particular residence,
being intended to visit any one port or harbour occasionally.

COMMISSAIRE _de l’artillerie de la marine_, an officer who, under the
orders of the intendant, has the charge of the foundery, the proof
of cannon and mortars, and of all other arms, gunpowder, ammunition,
instruments, and implements of war. He has also the command of the
gunners, matrosses, and bombardiers, maintained in a royal port, who
are divided into squads, commanded by _lieutenants de marine_, or
lieutenants of bomb-ketches. There are two of these COMMISSAIRES
_généraux_, one for the western ports of France, and the other for
Provence, or the eastern ports.

COMMISSAIRE _ordinaire de la marine_, an officer whose duty it is to
superintend the ordinary, the several clerks in a dock-yard, the
store-keepers accounts in a port, and the out-fits and return of
stores of a fleet.

COMMISSAIRE _ordînaire de l’artillerie de la marine_, an officer who
performs the duty of the COMMISSAIRE _général de l’artillerie de la
marine_, when he is absent. He keeps the keys of the naval magazine
and artillery store rooms jointly with the _garde-magazin_. He has
also a key of the arsenal, wherein the fire-arms are disposed
according to their length and calibre; and he keeps a register of
all the artillery within the warren where he resides. This register
contains principally the matter and fabric of such artillery.

COMMISSION, an order given by the king to an admiral, vice-admiral, or
other superior officer, to cruise against, and seize, the enemy’s
ships, &c.