CLINCHER. An incontrovertible and smart reply; but sometimes the confirmation of a story by a lie, or by some still more improbable yarn: synonymous with _capping_. CLINCHER OR CLINKER BUILT. Made of clincher-work, by the planks lapping one over the other. The contrary of _carvel-work_. Iron ships after this fashion are distinguished as being _lap-jointed_. CLINCHER-NAILS. Those which are of malleable metal, as copper, wrought iron, &c., which clinch by turning back the points in rough-built fir boats where roofs and clinching are thus avoided. CLINCHER-WORK. The disposition of the planks in the side of any boat or vessel, when the lower edge of every plank overlaps that next below it. This is sometimes written as pronounced, _clinker-work_. CLIPHOOK. A hook employed for some of the ends of the running rigging. CLIPPER. A fast sailer, formerly chiefly applied to the sharp-built raking schooners of America, and latterly to Australian passenger-ships. Larger vessels now built after their model are termed clipper-built: sharp and fast; low in the water; rakish. CLIVE. An old spelling of _cliff_. CLOCK-CALM. When not a breath of wind ruffles the water. CLOCK-STARS. A name for the nautical stars, which, from their positions having been very exactly ascertained, are used for determining time. CLOD-HOPPER. A clownish lubberly landsman. CLOKIE-DOO. A west of Scotland name for the horse-mackerel. CLOSE-ABOARD. Near or alongside; too close to be safe. "The boat is close aboard," a caution to the officer in command to receive his visitor. "The land is close aboard," danger inferred. CLOSE-BUTT. Where caulking is not used, the butts or joints of the planks are sometimes rabbeted, and fayed close, whence they are thus denominated. CLOSE CONTRACT. One not advertised. CLOSED PORT. One interdicted. CLOSE-FIST. One who drives a hard bargain in petty traffic. CLOSE HARBOUR. That is one gained by labour from the element, formed by encircling a portion of water with walls and quays, except at the entrance, or by excavating the land adjacent to the sea or river, and then letting in the water. CLOSE-HAULED. The general arrangement or trim of a ship's sails when she endeavours to progress in the nearest direction possible contrary to the wind; in this manner of sailing the keel of square-rigged vessels commonly makes an angle of six points with the line of the wind, but cutters, luggers, and other fore-and-aft rigged vessels will sail even nearer. This point of sailing is synonymous with _on a taut bowline_ and _on a wind_. CLOSE PACK. The ice floes so jammed together that boring is impossible, and present efforts useless. (_See_ PACK-ICE.) CLOSE-PORTS. Those which lie up rivers; a term in contradistinction to _out-ports_.