ES. Adapting the sails, ropes, or timbers from one
purpose to another, with the least possible waste.

CONVEXITY. The curved limb of the moon; an outward curve.

CONVICT-SHIP. A vessel appropriated to the convicts of a dockyard; also
one hired to carry out convicts to their destination.

CONVOY. A fleet of merchant ships similarly bound, protected by an armed
force. Also, the ship or ships appointed to conduct and defend them on
their passage. Also, a guard of troops to escort a supply of stores to a
detached force.

CONVOY-INSTRUCTIONS. The printed regulations supplied by the senior
officer to each ship of the convoy.

CONVOY-LIST. A return of the merchantmen placed under the protection of
men-of-war, for safe conduct to their destination.

COOK. A man of each mess who is caterer for the day, and answerable
too, wherefore he is allowed the surplus grog, termed _plush_ (which
see). The cook, _par excellence_, in the navy, was a man of importance,
responsible for the proper cooking of the food, yet not overboiling the
meat to extract the fat--his perquisite. The coppers were closely
inspected daily by the captain, and if they soiled a cambric
handkerchief the cook's allowance was stopped. Now, the ship's cook is a
first-class petty officer, and cannot be punished as heretofore. In a
merchantman the cook is, _ex officio_, the hero of the fore-sheet, as
the steward is of the main one.

COOKING A DAY'S WORK. To save the officer in charge. Reckoning too is
cooked, as in a certain Antarctic discovery of land, which James Ross
afterwards sailed over.

COOK-ROOM, OR COOK-HOUSE. The galley or caboose containing the cooking
apparatus, and where victuals are dressed.

COOLIE, COULEY, KOULI, OR CHULIAH. A person who carries a load; a porter
or day-labourer in India and China.

COOMB. The Anglo-Saxon _comb_; a low place inclosed with hills; a
valley. (_See_ CWM.)

COOMINGS, OR COMBINGS. The rim of the hatchways. (_See_ COAMINGS.)

COOM OF A WAVE. The comb or crest. The white summit when it breaks.

COON-TRAIE. A Manx and Erse term for the neap-tide.

COOP, OR FISH-COOP. A hollow vessel made with twigs, with which fish are
taken in the Humber. (_See_ HEN-COOP.)

COOPER. A rating for a first-class petty officer, who repairs casks, &c.

COOT. A water-fowl common on lakes and rivers (_Fulica atra_). The toes
are long and not webbed, but bordered by a scalloped membrane. The name
is sometimes used for the guillemot (_U