COACH-HORSES. The crew of the state barge; usually fifteen selected men, to support the captain in any daring exploits.
COAD. In ship-building, the fayed piece called _bilge-keel_.
COAK. A small perforated triangular bit of brass inserted into the middle of the shiver (now called _sheave_) of a block, to keep it from splitting and galling by the pin, whereon it turns. Called also _bush_, _cock_ or _cogg_, and _dowel_.
COAKING. Uniting pieces of spar by means of tabular projections formed by cutting away the solid of one piece into a hollow, so as to make a projection in the other fit in correctly, the butts preventing the pieces from drawing asunder. Coaks, or dowels, are fitted into the beams and knees of vessels, to prevent their slipping.
COAL-FISH. The _Gadus carbonarius_. Called _gerrack_ in its first year, _cuth_ or _queth_ in its second, _sayth_ in its third, _lythe_ in its fourth, and _colmie_ in its fifth, when it is full grown.
COALING. Taking in a supply of coals for a cruise or voyage.
COALS. To be hauled over the coals, is to be brought to strict account.
COAL-SACKS. An early name of some dark patches of sky in the Milky Way, nearly void of stars visible to the naked eye. The largest patch is near the Southern Cross, and called the Black Magellanic Cloud.
COAL-TAR. Tar extracted from bituminous coal.
COAL-TRIMMER. One employed in a steamer to stow and trim the fuel. This duty and that of the stoker are generally combined.
COAMING-CARLINGS. Those timbers that inclose the mortar-beds of bomb-vessels, and which are called carlings, because they are shifted occasionally. Short beams where a hatchway is cut.
COAMINGS OF THE HATCHES OR GRATINGS. Certain raised work rather higher than the decks, about the edges of the hatch-openings of a ship, to prevent the water on deck from running down. Loop-holes were made in the coamings for firing muskets from below, in order to clear the deck of an enemy when a ship is boarded. There is a rabbet in their inside upper edge, to receive the hatches or gratings.
COAST. The sea-shore and the adjoining country; in fact, the sea-front of the land. (_See_ SHORE.)
COAST-BLOCKADE. A body of men formerly under the jurisdiction of the Customs, termed Preventive Service, offering a disposable force in emergency; but which has been turned over to the control of the Admiralty, and now become the Coast-guard, over which a commodore, as controller-general, presides. (_See_ FENCIBLES.)
