te
of the barometer.

CUMULUS. A cloud indicative of fair weather, when it is small: it is
sometimes seen in dense heaps, whence it obtained the name of _stacken
cloud_. It is then a forerunner of change.

CUND, TO. To give notice which way a shoal of fish is gone.

CUNETTE. _See_ CUVETTE.

CUNN, OR CON. _See_ CONN.

CUNNENG. A northern name for the lamprey.

CUP. A solid piece of cast-iron let into the step of the capstan, and in
which the iron spindle at the heel of the capstan works. Also,
colloquially used for come, as, "Cup, let me alone."

CUPOLA-SHIP. Captain Coles's; the cupola being discontinued, now called
_turret-ship_ (which see).

CUR. An east-country term for the bull-head.

CURE, TO. To salt meat or fish.

CUR-FISH. A small kind of dog-fish.

CURIET. A breast-plate made of leather.

CURL. The bending over or disruption of the ice, causing it to pile.
Also, the curl of the surf on the shore.

CURL-CLOUD. The same as _cirrus_ (which see).

CURLEW. A well-known coast bird, with a long curved bill, the _Numenius
arquatus_.

CURRACH. A skiff, formerly used on the Scottish coasts.

CURRA-CURRA. A peculiarly fast boat among the Malay Islands.

CURRENT. A certain progressive flowing of the sea in one direction, by
which all bodies floating therein are compelled more or less to submit
to the stream. The _setting_ of the current, is that point of the
compass towards which the waters run; and the _drift_ of the current is
the rate it runs at in an hour. Currents are general and particular, the
former depending on causes in constant action, the latter on occasional
circumstances. (_See_ DIRECTION.)

CURRENT SAILING. The method of determining the true motion of a ship,
when, besides being acted upon by the wind, she is drifting by the
effect of a current. A due allowance must therefore be made by the
navigator.

CURRIER. A small musketoon with a swivel mounting.

CURSOR. The moving wire in a reading microscope.

CURTAIN. In fortification, that part of the rampart which is between the
flanks of two opposite bastions, which are thereby connected.

CURTALL, OR CURTALD. An ancient piece of ordnance used in our early
fleets, apparently a short one.

CURTATE DISTANCE. An astronomical term, denoting the distance of a body
from the sun or earth projected upon the ecliptic.

CURTLE-AXE. The old term for cutlass or cutlace.

CURVED FIRE. A name coming into use with the increasing application of