The Sailor's Word-Book Part 68

CROSS-SWELL. This is similar to a cross-sea, except that it undulates without breaking violently.

CROSS-TAIL. In a steam-engine, is of the same form as the cylinder cross-head: it has iron straps catching the pins in the ends of the side-levers.

CROSS-TIDE. The varying directions of the flow amongst shoals that are under water. (_See_ CURRENT.)

CROSS-TIMBERS. _See_ CROSS-PIECE.

CROSS-TREES. Certain timbers supported by the cheeks and trestle-trees at the upper ends of the lower and top masts, athwart which they are laid to sustain the frame of the tops on the one, and to extend the top-gallant shrouds on the other.

CROTCHED-YARD. The old orthography for _crossjack-yard_ (which see).

CROTCHES. _See_ CRUTCH.

CROW, OR CROW-BAR. An iron lever furnished with a sharp point at one end, and two claws on a slight bevel bend at the other, to prize or remove weighty bodies, like pieces of timber, to draw spike-nails, &c.

Also, to direct and manage the great guns.

CROWDIE. Meal and milk mixed in a cold state; but sometimes a mere composition of oatmeal and boiled water, eaten with treacle, or b.u.t.ter and sugar, as condiment.

CROWD SAIL, TO. To carry an extraordinary press of canvas on a ship, as in pursuit of, or flight from, an enemy, &c.

CROW-FOOT. A number of small lines spreading out from an uvrou or long block, used to suspend the awnings by, or to keep the top-sails from striking violently, and fretting against the top-rims. (_See_ EUPHROE.) Also, a kind of stand, attached to the end of mess-tables, and hooked to a beam above.--_Crow-foot_ or _beam-arm_ is also a crooked timber, extended from the side of a beam to the ship's side, in the wake of the hatchway, supplying the place of a beam.--_Crow's-foot_ is the name of the four-pointed irons thrown in front of a position, to hamper the advance of cavalry, and other a.s.sailants, for in whatsoever way they fall one point is upwards. The phrase of _crow's-feet_ is also jocularly applied to the wrinkles spreading from the outer corner of the eyes--a joke used both by Chaucer and Spenser.

CROWN. A common denomination in most parts of Europe for a silver coin, varying in local value from 2_s._ 6_d._ sterling to 8_s._ (_See also_ PREROGATIVE.)--_Crown of an anchor._ The place where the arms are joined to the shank, and unite at the throat.--_Crown of a gale._ Its extreme violence.--In fortification, to crown is to effect a lodgment on the top of; thus, the besieger _crowns_ the covered way when he occupies with his trenches the crest of the glacis.

CROWN, OR DOUBLE CROWN. A knot; is to pa.s.s the strands of a rope over and under each other above the knot by way of finish. (_See_ KNOT.)

CROWNING. The finishing part of some knots on the end of a rope, to prevent the ends of the strands becoming loose. They are more particularly useful in all kinds of stoppers. (_See_ WALL-KNOT and CROWN.)

CROWN-WORK. In fortification, the largest definite form of outwork, having for its head two contiguous bastioned fronts, and for its sides two long strait faces, flanked by the artillery fire of the place. Or a detached work, according to the circ.u.mstances of the ground, requiring such advanced occupation.

CROW-PURSE. The egg-capsule of a skate.

CROW-Sh.e.l.l. A fresh-water mussel.

CROW'S NEST. A small shelter for the look-out man: sometimes made with a cask, at the top-gallant mast-head of whalers, whence fish are espied.

Also, for the ice-master to note the lanes or open s.p.a.ces in the ice.

CROY. An inclosure on the sea-beach in the north for catching fish. When the tide flows the fishes swim over the wattles, but are left by the ebbing of the water.

CRUE. _See_ KREEL.

CRUE-HERRING. The shad (_Clupea alosa_).

CRUER. _See_ CRARE.

CRUISE, OR CRUIZE. A voyage in quest of an enemy expected to sail through any particular tract of the sea at a certain season,--the seeker traversing the cruising lat.i.tude under easy sail, backward and forward.

The parts of seas frequented by whales are called the cruising grounds of whalers.

CRUISERS. Small men-of-war, made use of in the Channel and elsewhere to secure our merchant ships from the enemy's small frigates and privateers. They were generally such as sailed well, and were well manned.

CRUIVES. Inclosed s.p.a.ces in a dam or weir for taking salmon.

CRUMMY. Fleshy or corpulent.

CRUPPER. The train tackle ring-bolt in a gun-carriage.

CRUSADO. _See_ CRUZADO.

CRUTCH, OR CROTCH. A support fixed upon the taffrail for the main boom of a sloop, brig, cutter, &c., and a chock for the driver-boom of a ship when their respective sails are furled. Also, crooked timber inside the after-peak of a vessel, for securing the heels of the cant or half-timbers: they are fayed and bolted on the foot-waling. Also, stanchions of wood or iron whose upper parts are forked to receive masts, yards, and other spars, and which are fixed along the sides and gangways. Crutches are used instead of rowlocks, and also on the sides of large boats to support the oars and spars.

CRUZADO. A Portuguese coin of 480 reis, value 2_s._ 7-1/4_d._ sterling in Portugal; in England, 2_s._ to 2_s._ 2_d._

CUBBRIDGE HEADS. The old bulk-heads of the forecastle and half-decks, wherein were placed the "murderers," or guns for clearing the decks in emergency.

CUBE. A solid body inclosed by six square sides or faces. A cubical foot is 12 inches square every way, of any solid substance.

CUB-HOUSE, OR CUBBOOS. _See_ CABOOSE.

CUBICULATae. Roman ships furnished with cabins.

CUCKOLD'S-KNOT OR NECK. A knot by which a rope is secured to a spar--the two parts of the rope crossing each other, and seized together.

CUDBEAR. (_See_ CORKIR.) A violet dye--archil, a test.

CUDBERDUCE. The cuthbert-duck, a bird of the Farne Isles, off Northumberland.

CUDDIC, CUDDY, OR CUDLE. All derived from cuttle-fish varieties of sepia used for baits.

CUDDIE, OR CUDDIN. One of the many names for the coal-fish, a staple article of the coast of Scotland. The _Gadus carbonarius_ is taken nearly all the year round by fishing from the rocks, and by means of landing nets. If this fish be not delicate, it is at least nutritious, and as it contains much oil, it furnishes light as well as food.

CUDDING. A northern name for the char.

CUDDY. A sort of cabin or cook-room, generally in the fore-part, but sometimes near the stern of lighters and barges of burden. In the oceanic traders it is a cabin abaft, under the round-house or p.o.o.p-deck, for the commander and his pa.s.sengers. Also, the little cabin of a boat.

CUDDY-LEGS. A name in the north for large herrings.

CUIRa.s.s. Armour or covering for the breast, anciently made of hide.

CUIRa.s.sIERS. Horse soldiers who wear the cuira.s.s, a piece of defensive armour, covering the body from the neck to the waist.

CUISSES. Armour to protect the thighs.

CULAGIUM. An archaic law-term for the laying up of a ship in the dock to be repaired.

CULCH. _See_ OYSTER-BED.

CULLOCK. A species of bivalved mollusc on our northern sh.o.r.es, the _Tellina rhomboides_.