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William Falconer's Dictionary of the MarineReference Works
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Table of Contents

C

CABIN to To CALK, or CAULK

CALL to CANNON
CALL
CALM
Dead-CALM
CAMBERED-DECK
CAN-BUOY
CAN-HOOKS
CANNON

CANNON to CANOE

CANOE to To rig the CAPSTERN

Surge the CAPSTERN to CARPENTER of a ship

CARTEL to CATS-PAW

CAULKING to CHANNEL

CHANNELS to CHEARLY

CHEEKS of the mast to CLINCH

CLINCHER-WORK to COASTING-PILOT

COAT to COLLIERS

COLOURS to COMPASS

COMPASSING to COVE

COUNTER to CRAWL

CREEPER to CROW-FOOT

CROWNING to CUT-WATER


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CALM

CALM, (calme, Fr.) the state of rest which appears in the air and sea when there is no wind stirring.

That tract of the Atlantic ocean, situated between the tropic of Cancer and the latitude of 29� north; or the space that lies between the trade and the variable winds, is frequently subject to calms of very long duration: and hence it has acquired, amongst seamen, the name of the Calm Latitudes.

A long calm is often more fatal to a ship than the severest tempest, because if the ship is tight and in good condition, she may sustain the latter without much injury; whereas in a long calm, the provision and water may be entirely consumed, without any opportunity of obtaining a fresh supply.

The surface of the sea in a continued calm is smooth and bright as a looking-glass.


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© Derived from Thomas Cadell's new corrected edition, London: 1780, page 60, 2003
Prepared by Paul Turnbull
http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0257.html