C
CABIN to To CALK, or CAULK
CALL to 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
COMPASSING
COMPLEMENT
COMPTROLER of the navy
CONVOY
CORDAGE
CORPORAL of a ship of war
CORPOSANT
CORSAIR
COTT
COVE
COUNTER to CRAWL
CREEPER to CROW-FOOT
CROWNING to CUT-WATER
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CORPOSANT
CORPOSANT, (feu St. Elme, Fr. corpo santo, Ital.) a sort of volatile meteor, or ignis fatuus, often beheld in a dark and tempestuous night about the decks or rigging of a ship, but particularly at the extremities, as the mast-heads, and yard-arms: it is most frequent in heavy rain, accompanied with lightening. " They usually wander with uncertain motion from place to place, sometimes appearing to cleave close to the sails and masts; but they frequently leap up and down with intermission, affording an obscure flame, like that of a candle burning faintly. They are produced by some sulphureous and bituminous matter, which being beat down by the motion of the air above, and gathering together, is kindled by the agitation of the air, as butter is gathered together by the agitation of the cream. And from this appearance we infer that storms come from sulphureous spirits that rarify the air, and put it into a motion." Varenius.
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© Derived from Thomas Cadell's new corrected edition, London: 1780, page 88, 2003
Prepared by Paul Turnbull
http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/0372.html