CAP. A thick, strong block of wood with two holes through it, one square and the other round, used to confine together the head of one mast and the lower part of the mast next above it. (See PLATE 1.) CAPSIZE. To overturn. CAPSTAN. A machine placed perpendicularly in the deck, and used for a strong purchase in heaving or hoisting. Men-of-war weigh their anchors by capstans. Merchant vessels use a windlass. (See BAR.) CAREEN. To heave a vessel down upon her side by purchases upon the masts. To lie over, when sailing on the wind. CARLINGS. Short and small pieces of timber running between the beams. CARRICK-BEND. A kind of knot. (See PLATE 5 and page 50.) _Carrick-bitts_ are the windlass bitts. CARRY-AWAY. To break a spar, or part a rope. CAST. To pay a vessel's head off, in getting under way, on the tack she is to sail upon. CAT. The tackle used to hoist the anchor up to the cat-head. _Cat-block_, the block of this tackle. CAT-HARPIN. An iron leg used to confine the upper part of the rigging to the mast. CAT-HEAD. Large timbers projecting from the vessel's side, to which the anchor is raised and secured. CAT'S-PAW. A kind of hitch made in a rope. (See PLATE 5 and page 50.) A light current of air seen on the surface of the water during a calm. CAULK. To fill the seams of a vessel with oakum. CAVIL. (See KEVEL.) CEILING. The inside planking of a vessel. CHAFE. To rub the surface of a rope or spar. _Chafing-gear_ is the stuff put upon the rigging and spars to prevent their chafing. CHAINS. (See PLATE 1.) Strong links or plates of iron, the lower ends of which are bolted through the ship's side to the timbers. Their upper ends are secured to the bottom of the dead-eyes in the channels. Also, used familiarly for the CHANNELS, which see. The chain cable of a vessel is called familiarly her _chain_. _Rudder-chains_ lead from the outer and upper end of the rudder to the quarters. They are hung slack. CHAIN-PLATES. Plates of iron bolted to the side of a ship, to which the chains and dead-eyes of the lower rigging are connected. CHANNELS. Broad pieces of plank bolted edgewise to the outside of a vessel. Used for spreading the lower rigging. (See CHAINS.) CHAPELLING. Wearing a ship round, when taken aback, without bracing the head yards. (See page 80.) CHECK. A term sometimes used for slacking off a little on a brace, and then belaying it. CHEEKS. The projections on each side of a mast, upon which the trestle-trees rest. The sides of the shell of a block. CHEERLY! Quickly, with a will. CHESS-TREES. Pieces of oak, fitted to the sides of a vessel, abaft the fore chains, with a sheave in them, to board the main tack to. Now out of use. CHIMES. The ends of the staves of a cask, where they come out beyond the head of the cask. CHINSE. To thrust oakum into seams with a small iron. CHOCK. A wedge used to secure anything with, or for anything to rest upon. The long boat rests upon two large _chocks_, when it is stowed.