CROSS-PIECE. The transverse timber of the bitts. Also, a rail of timber extending over the windlass of some merchant-ships from the knight-heads to the belfry. It is furnished with wooden pins to fasten the running-rigging to, as occasion requires.--_Cross-pieces._ Short pieces laid across the keel of a line-of-battle ship, and scarphed to the lower ends of the first futtocks, as strengtheners. CROSS-SEA. A sea not caused by the wind then blowing. During a heavy gale which changes quickly (a cyclone, for instance), each change of wind produces a direction of the sea, which lasts for some hours after the wind which caused it has changed, so that in a part of the sea which has experienced all the changes of one of these gales, the sea runs up in pyramids, sending the tops of the waves perpendicularly into the air, which are then spread by the prevailing wind; the effect is awfully grand and dangerous, for it generally renders a ship ungovernable until it abates. CROSS-SOMER. A beam of timber. CROSS-SPALES OR SPALLS. Temporary beams nailed across a vessel to keep the sides together, and support the ship in frame, until the deck-knees are fastened. CROSS-STAFF. _See_ FORE-STAFF. CROSS-SWELL. This is similar to a cross-sea, except that it undulates without breaking violently. CROSS-TAIL. In a steam-engine, is of the same form as the cylinder cross-head: it has iron straps catching the pins in the ends of the side-levers. CROSS-TIDE. The varying directions of the flow amongst shoals that are under water. (_See_ CURRENT.) CROSS-TIMBERS. _See_ CROSS-PIECE. CROSS-TREES. Certain timbers supported by the cheeks and trestle-trees at the upper ends of the lower and top masts, athwart which they are laid to sustain the frame of the tops on the one, and to extend the top-gallant shrouds on the other. CROTCHED-YARD. The old orthography for _crossjack-yard_ (which see). CROTCHES. _See_ CRUTCH. CROW, OR CROW-BAR. An iron lever furnished with a sharp point at one end, and two claws on a slight bevel bend at the other, to prize or remove weighty bodies, like pieces of timber, to draw spike-nails, &c. Also, to direct and manage the great guns. CROWDIE. Meal and milk mixed in a cold state; but sometimes a mere composition of oatmeal and boiled water, eaten with treacle, or butter and sugar, as condiment. CROWD SAIL, TO. To carry an extraordinary press of canvas on a ship, as in pursuit of, or flight from, an enemy, &c.