UBAIS. An ornamented Japanese barge of forty oars.

COUD. An old term used for _conn_ or _cunn_.

COULTER-NEB. A name of the puffin (_Fratercula arctica_).

COUNCIL-OF-WAR. The assemblage of officers for concerting measures of
moment, too often deemed the symbol of irresolution in the
commander-in-chief.

COUNTER. A term which enters into the composition of divers words of our
language, and generally implies opposition, as _counter-brace_,
_counter-current_, &c.--_Counter of a ship_, refers to her after-seat on
the water: the counter above extends from the gun-deck line, or lower
ribbon moulding of the cabin windows, to the water-line (or seat of
water); the lower counter is arched below that line, and constitutes the
hollow run. It is formed on the transom-buttocks.

COUNTER-APPROACHES. Works effected outside the place by the garrison
during a siege, to enfilade, command, or otherwise check the approaches
of the besieger.

COUNTER-BALANCE WEIGHT, in the marine engine. (_See_ LEVER.) Also in
many marine barometers, where it slides and is fixed by adjusting
screws, so as to produce an even-balanced swing, free from jerk.

COUNTER-BRACE, TO. Is bracing the head-yards one way, and the
after-yards another. The counter-brace is the lee-brace of the
fore-topsail-yard, but is only distinguished by this name at the time of
the ship's going about (called tacking), when the sail begins to shiver
in the wind, this brace is hauled in to flatten the sail against the
lee-side of the top-mast, and increase the effect of the wind in forcing
her round. Counter-bracing becomes necessary to render the vessel
stationary when sounding, lowering a boat, or speaking a stranger. It is
now an obsolete term, and the man[oe]uvre is called _heaving-to_.

COUNTER-CURRENT. That portion of water diverted from the main stream of
a current by the particular formation of the coast or other obstruction,
and which therefore runs in a contrary direction. There is also a
current formed under the lee-counter of a ship when going through the
water, which retains floating objects there, and is fatal to a man, by
sucking him under.

COUNTERFORTS. Masonry adjuncts, advantageous to all retaining walls, but
especially to those which, like the escarps of fortresses, are liable to
be battered. They are attached at regular intervals to the hinder face
of the wall, and perpendicular to it; having various proportions, but
generally the same height as the wall