e bight of a rope, so as to induce two small
bights, in order to hook a tackle on them both. Also, good-looking
seamen employed to entice volunteers.

CAT'S-SKIN. A light partial current of air, as with the cat's-paw.

CAT'S-TAIL. The inner part of the cat-head, that fays down upon the
cat-beam.

CAT-STOPPER, OR CATHEAD-STOPPER. A piece of rope or chain rove through
the ring of an anchor, to secure it for sea, or singled before letting
it go.

CAT-TACKLE. A strong tackle, used to draw the anchor perpendicularly up
to the cat-head, which latter is sometimes called cat.

CATTAN. _See_ KATAN.

CAT THE ANCHOR. When the cat is hooked and "cable enough" veered and
stoppered, the anchor hangs below the cat-head, swings beneath it; it is
then hauled close up to the cat-head by the purchase called the
cat-fall. The cat-stopper is then passed, and the cat-block unhooked.

CATTING. The act of heaving the anchor by the cat-tackle. Also,
sea-sickness.

CATTY. A Chinese commercial weight of 18 ozs. English. Tea is packed in
one or two or more catty boxes, hence most likely our word tea-caddy.

CAUDAL FIN. The vertical median fin terminating the tail of fishes.

CAUDICARIAE. A kind of lighter used by the Romans on the Tiber.

CAUL. The membrane encompassing the head of some infants when born, and
from early antiquity esteemed an omen of good fortune, and a
preservative against drowning; it was sought by the Roman lawyers with
as much avidity as by modern voyagers. Also, a northern name for a
dam-dike. Also, an oriental license. (_See_ KAULE.)

CAULK, TO. (_See_ CAULKING.) To lie down on deck and sleep, with clothes
on.

CAULKER. He who caulks and pays the seams. This word is mistaken by many
for _cawker_ (which see).

CAULKER'S SEAT. A box slung to a ship's side whereon a caulker can sit
and use his irons; it contains his tools and oakum.

CAULKING OF A SHIP. Forcing a quantity of oakum, or old ropes untwisted
and drawn asunder, into the seams of the planks, or into the intervals
where the planks are joined together in the ship's decks or sides, or
rends in the planks, in order to prevent the entrance of water. After
the oakum is driven in very hard, hot melted pitch or rosin is poured
into the groove, to keep the water from rotting it. Among the ancients
the first who made use of pitch in caulking were the inhabitants of
Phaeacia, afterwards called Corfu. Wax and rosin appear to have been
commonly used before that