se makes with that meridian is shown by the lubber's point, a dark
line inside the box. (_See_ ADJUSTMENT OF THE COMPASS.)

COMPASS, TO. To curve; also to obtain one's object.

COMPASSING. (_See_ COMPASS-TIMBERS.)

COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES. Grants are made on the compassionate fund to
the legitimate children of deceased officers, on its being shown to the
Admiralty that they deserve them.

COMPASS-SAW. A narrow saw, which, inserted in a hole bored by a
centre-bit, follows out required curves.

COMPASS-TIMBERS. Such as are curved, crooked, or arched, for
ship-building.

COMPENSATION. If a detained vessel is lost by the negligence and
misconduct of the prize-master, compensation must be rendered, and the
actual captors are responsible. The principal being answerable in law
for the agent's acts.

COMPENSATOR OF THE COMPASS. _See_ MAGNETIC COMPENSATOR.

COMPLAIN, TO. The creaking of masts, or timbers, when over-pressed,
without any apparent external defect. One man threatening to complain of
another, is saying that he will report misconduct to the officer in
charge of the quarter-deck.

COMPLEMENT. The proper number of men employed in any ship, either for
navigation or battle. In navigation the complement of the course is what
it wants of eight points; of latitude, what it is short of 90 deg.
(_See_ CO-LATITUDE.)

COMPLEMENT OF LONGITUDE. _See_ SUPPLEMENT OF LONGITUDE.

COMPLETE BOOK. A book which contains the names and particulars of every
person borne for wages on board, as age, place of birth, rating, times
of entry and discharge, &c.

COMPLIMENT, TO. To render naval or military honour where due.

COMPO. The monthly portion of wages paid to the ship's company.

COMPOSITION NAILS. Those which are made of mixed metal, and which, being
largely used for nailing on copper sheathing, are erroneously called
_copper nails_.

COMPOUND. A term used in India for a lawn garden, or inclosed ground
round a house.

COMPRADOR [Sp]. A Chinese contractor in shipping concerns, or in
purchasing present supplies.

COMPRESS. A pad of soft linen used by the surgeon for the dressing of a
wound.

COMPRESSION OF THE POLES. The amount of flattening at the polar regions
of a planet, by which the polar diameter is less than the equatorial.

COMPRESSOR. A mechanism generally adopted afloat for facilitating the
working of the large guns recently introduced; the gun-carriage is thus
compressed to its slide or platform during th