orthumberland.

CUDDIC, CUDDY, OR CUDLE. All derived from cuttle-fish varieties of sepia
used for baits.

CUDDIE, OR CUDDIN. One of the many names for the coal-fish, a staple
article of the coast of Scotland. The _Gadus carbonarius_ is taken
nearly all the year round by fishing from the rocks, and by means of
landing nets. If this fish be not delicate, it is at least nutritious,
and as it contains much oil, it furnishes light as well as food.

CUDDING. A northern name for the char.

CUDDY. A sort of cabin or cook-room, generally in the fore-part, but
sometimes near the stern of lighters and barges of burden. In the
oceanic traders it is a cabin abaft, under the round-house or poop-deck,
for the commander and his passengers. Also, the little cabin of a boat.

CUDDY-LEGS. A name in the north for large herrings.

CUIRASS. Armour or covering for the breast, anciently made of hide.

CUIRASSIERS. Horse soldiers who wear the cuirass, a piece of defensive
armour, covering the body from the neck to the waist.

CUISSES. Armour to protect the thighs.

CULAGIUM. An archaic law-term for the laying up of a ship in the dock to
be repaired.

CULCH. _See_ OYSTER-BED.

CULLOCK. A species of bivalved mollusc on our northern shores, the
_Tellina rhomboides_.

CULMINATION, in nautical astronomy, is the transit or passage of any
celestial body over the meridian of a place.

CULRING. An old corruption of _culverin_.

CULTELLUS. _See_ COUTEL.

CULVER. A Saxon word for pigeon, whence Culver-cliff, Reculvers, &c.,
from being resorted to by those birds. [Latin, _columba_; _b_ and _v_
are often interchanged.]

CULVERIN. An ancient cannon of about 5-1/4 inches bore, and from 9 to 12
feet long, carrying a ball of 18 pounds, with a first graze at 180
paces. Formerly a favourite sea-gun, its random range being 2500 paces.
The name is derived from a snake (_coluber_), or a dragon, being
sculptured upon it, thus forming handles.

CULVER-TAIL. The fastenings of a ship's carlings into the beams.

CULVER-TAILED. Fastened by dove-tailing--a way of letting one timber
into another, so that they cannot slip asunder.

CULWARD. The archaic term for a coward.

CUMULO-CIRRO-STRATUS. A horizontal sheet of cloud, with cirrus above and
cumulus beneath; it is better known as the _nimbus_ or _rain-cloud_.

CUMULO-STRATUS. This is the twain-cloud, so called because the stratus
blends with the cumulus; it is most frequent during a changeable sta