by Dean King
compasse Formal, stiff (French).
competence A comfortable living or estate.
complement The designated total number of officers and men to man a particular ship.
con To give sailing directions to the steersman or to direct the steering from some commanding position on shipboard.
condor Either of two large, now rare vultures, with black and white plumage and a remarkable caruncle over the bill, inhabiting the high Andes of South America (Vultur gryphus) and the coastal mountains of southern California (Gymnogyps californianus). Condors feed on dead animals and occasionally attack live prey. With a wingspan of 10 feet and weighing from 20 to 25 pounds, the predominantly black Andean condor is the heaviest flying bird of prey. The California condor is slightly smaller, lighter in color, and has an orange head.
coney Formerly the common name for a rabbit but now superseded in general use by “rabbit,” which originally was a name for the young only.
Confessions The autobiography of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778). Written in the tradition of other works of the same title, notably by St. Augustine in the fifth century, in which the author frankly reveals the mistakes he has made in his life.
Congreve, Sir William (1772-1828) English inventor, producer of a military rocket fired from British ships in 1805 during an attack on the French at Boulogne and in the following year at the siege of COPENHAGEN.
consol An abbreviation of Consolidated Annuities, the government securities of Great Britain.
Constantia Originally, wine produced on the farm Groot Constantia near Cape Town in present-day South Africa. After 1778, any of several sweet dessert wines produced in the Constantia valley by Hendrick Cloete. Napoleon is said to have asked for a glass of Constantia wine on his deathbed on ST. HELENA.
CONSTITUTION, U.S.S.
The 44-gun FRIGATE launched at Boston in 1797 and nicknamed “Old Ironsides” for her heavy build and heavy arms. She captured the British frigates Guerriere on August 19, 1812, and Java on October 26, 1812. She remains afloat as a commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy at Boston, Massachusetts.
The U.S.S. Constitution defeats H.M.S. Java: The following report by H. D. Chads, Senior Lieutenant, and B. Robinson, Master, ofH.M.S. Java, accompanied this diagram of the action in an 1813 edition (volume 29) of The Naval Chronicle.
At 8 A.M. close in with the land, with the wind at N.E. discovered a sail to the S.S.W. and another off the entrance of St. Salvador, cast off the prize in tow, and made all sail in chase of the vessel to leeward. At 10 made the private signal, which was not answered. At 11 hauled up, bringing the wind on our larboard quarter, took in all studding sails, prepared for action, the stranger standing towards us under easy sail, and apparently a large frigate. At a little after noon, when about four miles distant, she made a signal, which was kept flying about 10 minutes, when she tacked and made sail from us under all plain sail, running just good full; hauled up the same as the chase, but the breeze freshening, could not carry our royals; we were going at least 10 knots, and gaining very fast on the chase. At 1.30 she hoisted American colours.
At 1.50, having closed with the enemy to about two miles, he shortened sail to his top-gallant sails, jib, and spanker, and luff’d up to the wind; hoisted our colours, and put ourselves under the same sail, and bore down on him, he being at this time about three points on our lee bow. At 2.10, when half a mile distant, he opened his fire from the larboard side, and gave us about two broadsides before we returned it, which was not done til within pistol shot, on his weather bow, with our starboard guns. On the smoke clearing away, found him under all sail before the wind; made sail after him.
At 2.25 engaged him with our larboard guns, received his starboard; at 2.35 wore, and raked him close under his stern, giving him the weather-gage, which he did not take advantage of, but made sail free on the larboard tack; luff’d up, and gave him our starboard guns, raking, but rather distant; made sail after him. At 2.40, enemy shortened sail; did the same, and engaged him close to windward. At 2.50, he wore in the smoke, and was not perceived till nearly round, having just lost the head of our bowsprit, jib-boom, &c; hove in stays, in the hopes of getting round quick and preventing our being raked, but the ship hung a long time, and we received a heavy raking broadside into our stern at about two cables’ length distant; gave him our larboard guns on falling off; the enemy wore immediately; did the same.
At 2.55 I brought him to close action within pistol shot (at this time the master was wounded and carried below) till 3.5., when finding the day evidently gone, from all our rigging being cut to pieces, with our fore and main-mast badly wounded, Captain Lambert determined on boarding, as our only hope, bore up, and should have succeeded in laying him abreast of his main chains, but from the unfortunate fall of our fore-mast, the remains of our bowsprit passing over his stern and catching his mizen rigging, which was a great misfortune, as it brought us up to the wind, and prevented our raking him; whilst under the enemy’s stern, attempting to board, there was not a soul to be seen on his decks, from which circumstance I am induced to believe there was a good prospect of success; this manoeuvre failing, we were left at the mercy of the enemy, which he availed himself of, wearing across our bows, raking us, when our main-topmast went and wearing again at 3.2. under our stem.
At 3.30 our gallant captain was mortally wounded, and carried below; from this time till our mizen mast went at 4.15 he laid on our starboard quarter, pouring in a tremendous galling fire, whilst on our side we could never get more than two or three guns to bear, and frequently none at all. After this we fell off, and the enemy shot ahead, which again gave us the chance of renewing the action, which was done with good spirits broadside and broadside, Java very frequently on fire from firing through the wreck, which lay on the side; engaged till 4.35 when the Constitution made sail, and got out of gun shot, leaving us a perfect wreck, with out main-mast only standing, and main-yard gone in the slings; cleared the wreck, and endeavoured to get before the wind by setting a sail from the stump of the foremast and bowsprit; got the main tack forward, the weather yard-arm remaining aloft; cleared away the booms and got a top-gallant mast out, and commenced rigging it for a jury foremast, and a lower steering sail as a foresail, but before we could get this accomplished, we were obliged to cut away the main-mast to prevent its falling inboard, from the heavy rolling of the ships.
The enemy bore up to renew the action; made every preparation to receive him, reloaded the guns with round and grape; mustered at quarters, and found 110 men missing, six quarter-deck guns, four forecastle disabled, and many of the main deckers, with the wreck lying over them, the hull knocked to pieces, and the foremast, in falling, had passed through the forecastle and main decks, all our masts and bowsprit gone, the ship making water, with one pump shot away; consulted now with lieutenants Nerringham and Buchanan, when it was determined to engage him again, should he give us an opportunity of so doing, with a probability of disabling him, which was now our sole object, but that it would be wasting lives resisting longer, should he resume a raking position, which unfortunately was the case, and when close to us, and getting his broadside to bear, I struck, and hailed him, to say we had done so at 5.50.
At six she took possession of us, and proved to be the American frigate Constitution; the next day I found our loss was 22 killed and 102 wounded, two of whom are since dead. The Americans allowed they had 10 killed, but differed very much about their wounded, which I found to be 44 severely, and four mortally; the slight wounds I could not ascertain. [Paragraph breaks added.] (Courtesy of the Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, Virginia.)
contre-coup Counterblow, repercussion (French). In medicine it usually refers to the injury sustained by one side of the brain when the opposite side of the head is struck, causing the brain to hit the inside of the skull.
contubernal One who occupies the same tent; a tent-fellow, comrade.
cony A dupe, a gull.
Cook, Captain James (1728-1779) A legendar
y explorer who worked his way up from ORDINARY SEAMAN. During three voyages to the Pacific, Cook charted New Zealand and part of New Guinea and staked British claim to parts of Australia while establishing it as an island continent, explored the Pacific coast of North America, and circumnavigated Antarctica and discovered New Caledonia and South Georgia. He was killed by Hawaiian natives in 1779 while returning from an expedition to the North Pacific.
cooper A craftsman who builds and repairs wooden vessels made of STAVES and hoops, such as casks, buckets, tubs.
cooperage The coopering of casks, and the business or trade of a COOPER.
coot Originally a generic name for various swimming and diving birds.
Copenhagen, Battle of or Battle of the Baltic Battle of April 2, 1801, in which Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, with NELSON second in command, defeated a Danish force anchored off Copenhagen, Denmark’s chief port. Despite heavy fire and Parker’s signal to retreat—which prompted Nelson to utter his famous line, “You know, Foley, I have only one eye, I have a right to be blind sometimes”—Nelson carried on and won the day. In 1807, the British defeated forces at Copenhagen again, capturing the whole Danish fleet.
copepod A minute crustacean with four or five pairs of feet chiefly used for swimming.
cop it To “catch it,” to be punished, get into trouble. Also, to die.
copper A vessel made of copper, particularly a large boiler used for cooking or laundry.
copperas Iron sulfate, also called green copperas or green vitriol, used in dyeing, tanning, the manufacture of ink, and, uncommonly, as a strengthening tonic medicine.
copper-bottomed Having the bottom covered or sheathed with copper to protect against the TEREDO (once known as shipworm) and the accumulation of shells and weeds. Introduced in the Royal Navy during the period 1779-1786. Also, figuratively, thoroughly sound, authentic, trustworthy
copperplate A polished plate of copper on which a design is engraved or etched for printing. Also, a style of careful handwriting.
Copt A native Egyptian Christian belonging to the Jacobite sect of Monophysites, who believe that there was only a single divine nature in Christ.
Coquimbo A province in central Chile.
coracoid Literally, shaped like a crow’s beak; a projection on the posterior surface of the shoulder blade.
corbel A strong stone, brick, timber, or iron projection from the face of a wall to support another weight.
cordage Cords or ropes, especially those in the RIGGING of a ship.
Corelli, Arcangelo (1653-1713) Italian violinist and composer who was born near Bologna and later lived in Rome. He was known in particular for his concerti grossi and violin sonatas, which influenced Bach’s work.
corn To form into grains, specifically to form gunpowder into roundish particles by working it through sieves.
corn-chandler A retail dealer in corn and allied products.
corn-crake A bird with a harsh, grating call also called a landrail, found in the summer in Britain living in cornfields and hay fields.
cornelian A semitransparent quartz that is deep dull red, flesh-colored, or reddish-white in color.
Cornish Of or pertaining to Cornwall in southwestern England.
corn-powder Gunpowder that has been CORNed.
Corona Corona Australis or Corona Borealis. Constellations also known as the Southern or Northern Crown. They are formed by elliptical rings of stars, the former adjoining the constellation Sagittarius on the south and the latter between the constellations Hercules and Bootes.
coronal suture The transverse line of junction of the skull between the frontal and PARIETAL bones.
corpus vile A living or dead body of so little value that it can be used for experiment without regard to the outcome.
corrosive sublimate Mercuric chloride, a strong poison that was sometimes used in medicine.
corsair A pirate, more particularly the PRIVATEERS of BARBARY, who frequently attacked the ships and coasts of Christian countries. Although largely regarded as pirates, corsairs were often authorized and recognized by their own governments.
Corunna A seaport on the northwest coast of Spain, called by sailors “Groyne” or “the groin” (of Spain), an etymological perversion of the Spanish name, Coruna.
coruscation A quivering flash or flashes of light. Originally the term referred only to atmospheric phenomena.
corvette A warship with a flush deck and a single tier of guns.
Corvisart des Marets, Jean-Nicolas (1755-1821) Napoleon’s favorite physician. In 1808 he revived Leopold Auenbrugger’s 1761 important work on PERCUSSION and later wrote pioneering books in which he classified the various kinds of heart disease.
cosset A pet lamb, a pet. To treat as a pet, to fondle, indulge, pamper.
Cotopaxi A 19,347-foot active volcano in what is today north-central Ecuador.
counterpane The outer ornamental covering of a bed, such as a quilt or bedspread.
counter-timber or counter The underside of the STERN overhang down to the RUDDER.
country ship A ship belonging to the EAST INDIA COMPANY and built in India. Country trade was trade between ports of the EAST INDIES.
coup de main A sudden attack (from French).
coup de tete An impulsive act (French).
course The direction or point of the compass toward which a ship sails. The sails that hang from the lower YARDS of a SQUARE-RIGGED ship, now usually restricted to the FORESAIL (forecourse) and MAINSAIL (main-course).
courser A bird native to northern Africa noted for running swiftly, and related to the PLOVER.
court bouillon A stock for boiling fish and consisting of water, wine, vegetables, and seasonings.
court-martial A naval or military court made up of officers, usually superior in rank to the accused. In the Royal Navy, courts-martial were held for violations of the ARTICLES OF WAR and automatically occurred whenever a ship of the Royal Navy was lost.
According to Falconer’s Marine Dictionary (1815), regulation held that “The courts-martial are to be assembled in the fore-noon, and held in the most convenient and public place of the ship, where all, who will, may be present; and the captains of all his Majesty’s ships in company, which take post, have a right to assist there. It is required to set from day to day (Sunday always excepted) until the sentence be given; and no member shall absent himself from the court during the whole course of the trial....”
When the sentence was death, continued Falconer’s, “On the morning destined for the execution, the signal of death is displayed, and the boats of the squadron, manned and armed, surround the ship appointed for the execution. The crews of the respective ships are arranged on deck, and are acquainted with the crime for which the punishment is inflicted; after which a gun is fired; and, at the same time, the unhappy victim, who has violated the laws of his country, is run up by the neck, to the yard-arm, a terrible example to the surrounding spectators.”
court-plaster An adhesive plaster used to cover superficial cuts and wounds.
cove A fellow, chap, or customer. Also, the master of a house or shop.
cover-point In cricket, a fielder (or the position of a fielder) a little in front of the batsman on the offside, one of the key fielding positions as walls are often deflected by the batsman to the side.
cow-leech A cattle doctor or veterinarian.
cowpat or cow-flop Cow dung, often used dry as heating fuel.
Cowper, William (1731-1800) Poet noted for his moving poem “On the Loss of the Royal George,” which commemorated the sinking of that ship at SPITHEAD in 1782.
coxal Pertaining to a coxa, the joint that connects an insect’s leg to its body.
coxswain or cox’n The helmsman of a boat; the person on board ship having permanent charge of a boat and its crew, of which he has command unless a superior officer is present. In a MAN-OF-WAR the Captain’s coxswain, who has charge of the. Captain’s boat and attends him, ranks high among PETTY OFFICERS.
crac
k on To CLAP ON full sail; to carry all sail.
crane A large wading bird with very long legs, neck, and bill. Originally referred to the common European crane, once abundant in marshy places in Great Britain and prized as food, now extinct; about 15 closely allied species are found in other lands. Also, projecting pieces of iron or timber on board a ship to support a boat or SPAR. Pieces of iron or timber at a vessel’s sides used to stow boats or spars on. Also, a bent tube used to draw liquor out of a vessel; a siphon.
crank An unstable vessel, liable to lean to the side or capsize.
cravat A scarf worn around the neck, chiefly by men.
creeping skerit or skerret The water parsnip, Sium nodiflorum, which has edible white tubers, abandoned as a medicine by the mid-18th century. The Peruvian potato was sometimes called “skirret of Peru.”
crepitation A crackling noise. The sound and sensation caused by the entrance of air into the lungs in a certain stage of inflammation, or by the grating together of the ends of fractured bones. Also, the crackling noise sometimes observed when gangrenous parts are examined with the fingers.
creta alba Literally, white chalk, calcium carbonate, prescribed for diarrhea.
crib-biting or cribbing A harmful habit of some horses in which they seize a manger or other object with their teeth and at the same time noisily draw in breath.
criminal conversation Adultery.
crimp An agent whose business is to procure seamen or soldiers.
cringle A loop of rope containing a THIMBLE, or ring, that is attached to the BOLTROPE of a sail and used for REEFing.
crinkum-crankum Playful word for anything full of twists and turns or intricately or fancifully elaborated.
crocus Various yellow or red metal ores.
Croesus The last king of Lydia (560-546 B.C.), known for his wealth, as in the phrase “as rich as Croesus.”
crofter One who rents and cultivates a croft, or small holding. Especially in the Highlands and islands of Scotland, one of the joint tenants of a divided farm, who often tills a small croft and fishes.