ensign in the infantry; the junior
subaltern rank in the horse.

CORNISH RING. The astragal of the muzzle or neck of a gun; it is the
next ring from the mouth backwards. (Now disused.)

CORN-SALAD. A species of Valerianella. The top-leaves are used for
salad, a good anti-scorbutic with vinegar.

CORNS OF POWDER. The small grains that gunpowder consists of. The powder
reduced for fire-works, quill-tubes, &c.; sometimes by alcohol.

COROMONTINES. A peculiar race of negroes, brought from the interior of
Africa, and sold; but so ferocious as to be greatly dreaded in the West
Indies.

CORONA. In timber, consists of rows of microscopic cylinders, situated
between the wood and the pith; it is that part from which all the
branches take their rise, and from it all the wood-threads
grow.--_Corona_ astronomically means the luminous ring or glory which
surrounds the sun or moon during an eclipse, or the intervention of a
thin cloud. They are generally faintly coloured at their edges.
Frequently when there is a halo encircling the moon, there is a small
corona more immediately around it. Coronae, as well as halos, have been
observed to prognosticate rain, hail, or snow, being the result of snow
or dense vapours nearer the earth, through which the object becomes
hazy.

CORONER. An important officer. Seamen should understand that his duties
embrace all acts within a line drawn from one headland to another; or
within the body of the county. His duty is to investigate, on the part
of the crown, all accidents, deaths, wrecks, &c.; and his warrant is not
to be contemned or avoided.

COROUSE. The ancient weapon invented by Duilius for boarding. An attempt
was made in 1798 to re-introduce it in French privateers.

COROWNEL. The old word for colonel.

CORPHOUN. An out-of-the-way name for a herring.

CORPORAL, SHIP'S. In a ship of war was, under the master-at-arms,
employed to teach the sailors the use of small arms; to attend at the
gangways when entering ports, and see that no spirituous liquors were
brought on board without leave. Also, to extinguish the fire and candles
at eight o'clock in winter, and nine o'clock in summer, when the evening
gun was fired; and to see that there were no lights below, but such as
were under the charge of the proper sentinels. In the marines or army in
general the corporal is a non-commissioned officer next below the
sergeant in the scale of authority. The ship's corporal of the present
day is