ip. Each of the windings of this sort
is called a _fake_, and one range of _fakes_ upon the same line is
called a _tier_. There are generally from five to seven fakes in a tier,
and three or four tiers in the whole length of the cable. The smaller
ropes employed about the sails are coiled upon cleats at sea, to prevent
their being entangled.

COIR. Cordage made from the fibrous husks of the cocoa-nut; though
cables made of it are disagreeable to handle and coil away, they have
the advantage of floating in water, so that vessels ride easily by them;
they are still used by the Calcutta pilot-brigs. True coir is from the
_Borassus gomutus_, the long fibrous black cloth-like covering of the
stem. It is from this that the black cables in the East are made; the
cocoa-nut fibre being of a reddish hue. It is used for strong brushes,
being cylindrical and smooth, with a natural gloss.

COKERS. The old name for cocoa-nut trees.

CO-LATITUDE. The abbreviation for complement of latitude, or what it is
short of 90 deg.

COLD-CHISEL. A stout chisel made of steel, used for cutting iron when it
is cold.

COLD-EEL. The _Gymnotus electricus_.

COLE [from the German _kohl_]. Colewort or sea-kale; a plant in its wild
state peculiar to the sea-coast.

COLE-GOOSE. A name for the cormorant (_Phalacrocorax carbo_).

COLLAR. An eye in the end or bight of a shroud or stay, to go over the
mast-head. The upper part of a stay. Also, a rope formed into a wreath,
with a heart or dead-eye seized in the bight, to which the stay is
confined at the lower part. Also, the neck of a bolt.

COLLAR-BEAM. The beam upon which the stanchions of the beak-head
bulk-head stand.

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS. An officer who takes the general superintendence
of the customs at any port.

COLLIERS. Vessels employed exclusively to carry coals from the northern
ports of England. This trade has immemorially been an excellent nursery
for seamen. But Shakspeare, in _Twelfth Night_, makes Sir Toby exclaim,
"Hang him, foul collier!" The evil genius has lately introduced steam
screw-vessels into this invaluable school.

COLLIMATION, LINE OF. The optical axis of a telescope, or an imaginary
line passing through the centre of the tube.

COLLISION. The case of one ship running foul of another; the injuries
arising from which, where no blame is imputable to the master of either,
is generally borne by the owners of both in equal parts. (_See_
ALLISION.)

COLLISION-CLAUSE