The Sailor's Word-Book Part 53

CHAR. A fine species of trout taken in our northern lakes.

CHARACTERS. Certain marks invented for shortening the expression of mathematical calculations, as +, -, , , =, : :: :, v, &c.

CHARGE. The proportional quant.i.ty 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 quant.i.ty 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 quant.i.ty 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 s.h.i.+p of charge_, is one so deeply immersed as to steer badly.--_To charge a piece_, is to put in the proper quant.i.ty 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 s.h.i.+P. One let to hire to one or more, or to a company. A _general_ s.h.i.+p is where persons, unconnected, load goods.

CHARTERER. The person hiring or chartering a s.h.i.+p, 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 s.h.i.+p, 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 s.h.i.+p, which is also called giving chase.--_A stern chase_ is when the chaser follows the chased astern, directly upon the same point of the compa.s.s.--_To lie with a s.h.i.+p'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 s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p 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-s.h.i.+p.

CHASER. The s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p, pointing astern.

CHa.s.sE MAREES. The coasting vessels of the French sh.o.r.es 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 sh.o.r.e, 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.

CHAW. _See_ QUID.

CHEATING THE DEVIL. Softenings of very profane phrases, the mere euphemisms of hard swearing, as _od rot it_, _od's blood_, _dash it_, _dang you_, _see you blowed first_, _deuce take it_, _by gosh_, _be darned_, and the like profane preludes, such as boatswains and their mates are wont to use.

CHEAT THE GLa.s.s. _See_ FLOGGING THE GLa.s.s.

CHEBACCO BOAT. A description of fis.h.i.+ng-vessel employed in the Newfoundland fisheries. It is probably named from Chebucto Bay.

CHECK. (_See_ BOWLINE.) To slack off a little upon it, and belay it again. Usually done when the wind is by, or as long as she can lay her course without the aid of the bowline.--_To check_ is to slacken or ease off a brace, which is found to be too stiffly extended, or when the wind is drawing aft. It is also used in a contrary sense when applied to the cable running out, and then implies to stopper the cable.--_Check her_, stop her way.

CHECKERS. A game much used by seamen, especially in the tops, where usually a checker-board will be found carved.

CHECKING-LINES. These are rove through thimbles at the eyes of the top-mast and top-gallant rigging, one end bent to the lift and brace, the other into the top. They are used to haul them in to the mast-head, instead of sending men aloft.

CHEEK. Insolent language.--_Own cheek_, one's self.--_Cheeky_, flippant.

CHEEK-BLOCKS. Usually fitted to the fore-topmast head, for the purpose of leading the jib-stay, halliards, &c.

CHEEKS. A general term among mechanics for those pieces of timber in any machine which are double, and perfectly corresponding to each other. The projections at the throat-end of a gaff which embrace the mast are termed jaws. Also, the sides of a gun-carriage. (_See_ BRACKETS.) Also, the sides of a block. Also, an old soubriquet for a marine, derived from a rough pun on his uniform in olden days.

CHEEKS, OR CHEEK-KNEES. Pieces of compa.s.s-timber on the s.h.i.+p's bows, for the security of the beak-head, or knee of the head, whence the term _head-knee_. Two pieces of timber fitted on each side of a mast, from beneath the hounds and its uppermost end. Also, the circular pieces on the aft-side of the carrick-bitts.

CHEEKS OF AN EMBRASURE. The interior faces or sides of an embrasure.

CHEEKS OF THE MAST. The faces or projecting parts on each side of the masts, formed to sustain the trestle-trees upon which the frame of the top, together with the top-mast, immediately rest. (_See_ HOUNDS and BIBBS.)

CHEER, TO. To salute a s.h.i.+p _en pa.s.sant_, by the people all coming on deck and huzzahing three times; it also implies to encourage or animate.

(_See also_ HEARTY and MAN s.h.i.+P!)

CHEERING. The result of an animated excitement in action, which often incites to valour. Also, practised on s.h.i.+ps parting at sea, on joining an admiral, &c. In piratical vessels, to frighten their prey with a semblance of valour.

CHEERLY. Quickly; with a hearty will. "Cheerly, boys, cheerly," when the rope comes in slowly, or hoisting a sail with a few hands.

CHEESE. A circle of wads covered with painted canvas.

CHELYNGE. An early name of the cod-fish.

CHEQUE, OR CHECK. An office in dockyards. Cheque for muster, pay, provision, desertion, discharged, or dead--under DDD. or DSq^d.

CHEQUE, CLERK OF THE. An officer in the royal dockyards, who goes on board to muster the s.h.i.+p's company, of whom he keeps a register, thereby to check false musters, the penalty of which is cas.h.i.+ering.

CHEQUERED SIDES. Those painted so as to show all the ports; more particularly applicable to two or more rows.

CHERIMERI. In the East, a bribe in making a contract or bargain.

CHERRY. A species of smelt or spurling, taken in the Frith of Tay.

CHESIL. From the Anglo-Saxon word _ceosl_, still used for a bank or s.h.i.+ngle, as that remarkable one connecting the Isle of Portland with the mainland, called the Chesil Beach.