COITES, the ways, or cradles, upon which a ship gradually descends, when she is first launched into the water.

COITES au guindas, the cheeks or bits of the windlas. See CLEF au guindas.

COLLET d'étai, the eye of a stay placed over a mast-head.

COLLIER d'étai the collar or lower part of a stay.

COLLIER du ton, or du choquet, the iron clamp of a French cap. As the caps of English vessels are formed wholly of wood, this clamp is not in use amongst our shipping.

COLLIERS de defense, the puddening of a boat's stem.

COLOMBIERS, two shores employed to launch a ship into the water.

COLONNE, a rank of ships; one of the ranks of a fleet or squadron of ships when ranged in the usual order of sailing.

COLTIS, the beak-head bulk-head, which is comprehended between the two catheads athwart, and descends from the top of the fore-castle to the platform of the head. See BEAK-HEAD.

COMBAT naval, a general or particular sea-fight.

COMBUGER les fûtailles, to fill the water-casks of a ship with fresh water.

COMITE, an under officer of a galley, who commands the slaves.

COMMANDANT, a commodore. See CHEF d'escadre.

Reference Works