_ FISHERIES.)

CODGER. An easy-going man of regularity. Also, a knowing and eccentric
hanger-on; one who will not move faster than he pleases.

COD-LINE. An eighteen-thread line.

COD-SOUNDS. The swim-bladders of the cod-fish, cured and packed for the
market; the palates also of the fish are included as "tongues and
sounds."

COEHORN. A brass mortar, named after the Dutch engineer who invented it.
It is the smallest piece of ordnance in the service, having a bore of
4-1/2 inches diameter, a length of 1 foot, and a weight of 3/4 cwt. They
throw their 12-pounder shells with much precision to moderate distances,
and being fixed to wooden beds, are very handy for ships' gangways,
launches, &c., afloat, and for advanced trenches, the attack of
stockades, &c., ashore.

COFFER, OR COFFRE. A depth sunk in the bottom of a dry ditch, to baffle
besiegers when they attempt to cross it.

COFFER-DAM. A coffer-dam consists of two rows of piles, each row boarded
strongly inside, and being filled with clay within well rammed, thereby
resists outward pressure, and is impenetrable by the surrounding water.
(_See_ CAISSON.)

COGGE. An Anglo-Saxon word for a cock-boat or light yawl, being thus
mentioned in _Morte Arthure_--

"Then he covers his cogge, and caches one ankere."

But coggo, as enumerated in an ordinance of parliament (_temp._ Rich.
II.), seems to have been a vessel of burden used to carry troops.

COGGE-WARE. Goods carried in a cogge.

COGGLE, OR COG. A small fishing-boat upon the coasts of Yorkshire, and
in the rivers Ouse and Humber. Hence the _cogmen_, who after shipwreck
or losses by sea, wandered about to defraud people by begging and
stealing, until they were restrained by proper laws.

COGGS. The same with _coaks_ or _dowels_ (which see).

COGS OF A WHEEL; applies to all wheel machinery now used at sea or on
shore: thus _windlass-cogs_, _capstan-cogs_, &c.

COGUING THE NOSE. Making comfortable over hot negus or grog.

COIGN. _See_ QUOIN.

COIL. A certain quantity of rope laid up in ring fashion. The manner in
which all ropes are disposed of on board ship for convenience of
stowage. They are laid up round, one fake over another, or by concentric
turns, termed _Flemish coil_, forming but one tier, and lying flat on
the deck, the end being in the middle of it, as a snake or worm coils
itself.

COILING. A sort of serpentine winding of a cable or other rope, that it
may occupy a small space in the sh