A written agreement between belligerents for an exchange of
prisoners.
Caulk. To make a ship's seams watertight by plugging the crevices with
oakum (i.e. old untwisted rope).
Chasers. Bow-chasers were two long chase-guns placed forward in the bow
ports to fire directly ahead. Stern-chasers were similar guns mounted
astern.
Clean. A clean ship is one whose bottom is free from barnacles and weed
that check the pace.
Clearing for action. To get ready for battle by clearing the decks from
encumbrances and anything unnecessary or dangerous, such as wooden
partitions between cabins, etc.
Cochineal. A dye stuff consisting of female cochineal insects killed and
dried by heat. They yield a brilliant scarlet dye.
Cohorn mortars. See Mortar.
The commerce. Used several times in the sense of "the traders."
Commodore. A naval officer ranking above a captain and below a
rear-admiral. In the British Navy the rank is a temporary one, given to
senior officers in command of detached squadrons. The broad pennant
(chapter 4) is the flag that marks the presence of a commodore on board.
Courses. The sails below the topsails and next to the deck.
Cutter. See Boats.
Dollar. A corruption of the German "thaler," a name for a silver coin
worth about four shillings. The name was extended in the form "dollar" to
other coins of similar size, notably the old Spanish "piece of eight."
See Pieces of eight.
Doubloon. A former Spanish gold coin worth about eight dollars.
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