of the ship. They may be deemed radial bow or stern-timbers.

CANVAS [from _cannabis_, hemp]. A cloth made of hemp, and used for the
sails of ships. It is purchased in bolts, and numbered from 1 to 8,
rarely to 9 and 10. Number 1 being the coarsest and strongest, is used
for the lower sails, as fore-sail and main-sail in large ships. When a
vessel is in motion by means of her sails she is said to be under
canvas.

CANVAS-BACK DUCK. An American wild duck (_Fuligula valisneria_), which
takes this name from the colour of the back feathers; much esteemed as a
delicacy.

CANVAS-CLIMBER. A word used by Marston for a sailor who goes aloft;
hence Marina tells Leonine--

"And, clasping to a mast, endur'd a sea
That almost burst the deck, and from the ladder-tackle
Wash'd off a canvas-climber."

CAP. A strong thick block of wood having two large holes through it, the
one square, the other round, used to confine two masts together, when
one is erected at the head of the other, in order to lengthen it. The
principal caps of a ship are those of the lower masts, which are fitted
with a strong eye-bolt on each side, wherein to hook the block by which
the top-mast is drawn up through the cap. In the same manner as the top
mast slides up through the cap of the lower mast, the topgallant-mast
slides up through the cap of the top-masts. When made of iron the cap
used to be called a crance.--_To cap_ a mast-head is placing tarpaulin
guards against weather. The term is applied to any covering such as lead
put over iron bolts to prevent corrosion by sea-water, canvas covers
over the ends of rigging, &c. &c. Also, pieces of oak laid on the upper
blocks on which a vessel is built, to receive the keel. They are split
out for the addition of the false keel, and therefore should be of the
most free-grained timber. Also, the coating which guards the top of a
quill tube. Also, the percussion priming for fire-arms.--_Cap-a-pied_,
armed from head to foot.

CAP, TO. To puzzle or beat in argument. To salute by touching the
head-covering, as Shakspeare makes Iago's friends act to Othello. It is
now more an academic than a sea-term.

CAPABARRE. An old term for misappropriating government stores. (_See_
Marryat's _Novels_.)

CAPACISE. A corrupt form of _capsize_.

CAPACITY. Burden, tonnage, fitness for the service, rating.

CAPE. A projecting point of land jutting out from the coast-line; the
extremity of a promontory, of which l