CAVALIER. In fortification, a work raised considerably higher than its neighbours, but generally of similar plan. Its object is to afford a plunging fire, especially into the near approaches of a besieger, and to shelter adjacent faces from enfilade. Its most frequent position in fortresses is at the salient of the ravelin, or within the bastion; and in siege-works in the advanced trenches, for the purpose of enabling the musketry of the attack to drive the defenders out of the covered way.
CAVALLO, by some CARVALHAS. An oceanic fish, well-known as the bonito or horse-mackerel.
CAVALOT. A gun carrying a ball of one pound.
CAVALRY. That body of soldiers which serves and fights on horseback.
CAVIARE. A preparation of the roe of sturgeons and other fish salted. It forms a lucrative branch of commerce in Italy and Russia.
CAVIL. A large cleat for belaying the fore and main tacks, sheets, and braces to. (_See_ KEVELS.)
CAVITY. In naval architecture signifies the displacement formed in the water by the immersed bottom and sides of the vessel.
CAWE, OR CAWFE. An east-country eel-box, or a floating perforated cage in which lobsters are kept.
CAWKER. An old term signifying a glass of strong spirits taken in the morning.
CAY, OR CAYOS. Little insulated sandy spots and rocks. The Spaniards in the West Indies called the Bahamas _Los Cayos_, which we wrote _Lucayos_. (_See_ KEY.)
C.B. The uncials of Companion of the most honourable Order of the Bath. This grade was recently distributed so profusely that an undecorated veteran testily remarked that if government went on thus there would soon be more C.B.'s than A.B.'s in the navy.
CEILING. The lining or planks on the inside of a ship's frame: these are placed on the flat of the floor, and carried up to the hold-beams. The term is a synonym of _foot-waling_ (which see).
CELOCES, OR CELETES. Light row-boats, formerly used in piracy, and also for conveying advice.
CEMENT, ROMAN. For docks, piers, &c. _See_ POZZOLANA.
CENTRE (usually CENTER). The division of a fleet between the van and the rear of the line of battle, and between the weather and lee divisions in the order of sailing.
CENTRE OF CAVITY, OF DISPLACEMENT, OF IMMERSION, AND OF BUOYANCY, are synonymous terms in naval architecture for the mean centre of that part of a vessel which is immersed in the water.