CISTERN. A reservoir for water placed in different parts of a ship, where a constant supply may be required. Also furnished with a leaden pipe, which goes through the ship's side, whereby it is occasionally filled with sea-water, and which is thence pumped up to wash the decks, &c.
CITADEL. A fortified work of superior strength, and dominating everything else, generally separated therefrom by an open space of glacis or esplanade; often useful against domestic as well as foreign enemies.
CIVIL BRANCH. That department executed by civilians, as contradistinguished from the army or navy branch.
CIVILIANS. The surgeon, chaplain, purser or paymaster, assistant surgeons, secretary, and ship clerks, on board men-of-war.
CIVIL LORD. The lay or junior member of the admiralty board.
CIVIL WAR. That between subjects of the same realm, or between factions of the same state.
CLAIMANTS. Persons appealing to the jurisdiction of the admiralty court. They are denominated colourable, or fair, according to the informality, or justice, of their claims.
CLAKE. A name for the barnacle-goose (_Anser bernicla_). Also, for the _Lepas anatifera_, a cirriped often found attached to vessels or timber by a long fleshy peduncle, sometimes 4 or 5 feet in length.
CLAM. A well-known bivalve shell-fish. "As happy as a clam at high-water," a figurative expression for otiose comfort.
CLAMPING. Applying a cross-head, or stirrup-piece, in a socket.
CLAMP-NAILS. Such nails as are used to fasten clamps; they are short and stout, with large heads.
CLAMPS. Pieces of timber applied to a mast or yard, to prevent the wood from bursting. Also, thick planks lying fore and aft under the beams of the first orlop or second deck, the same as the rising-timbers are to the deck. They are securely fayed to all the timbers, to which they are fastened by nails through the clamp, and penetrating two-thirds of the thickness of the timbers. Also, substantial strakes, worked inside, on which the ends of the beams rest. Also, smooth crooked plates of iron forelocked upon the trunnions of cannon; these, however, are more properly termed cap-squares. (_See_ CARRIAGE.) Also, any plate of iron made to open and shut, so as to confine a spar. A one-cheeked block; the spar to which it is fastened being the other cheek.--_To clamp_, is to unite two bodies by surfaces or circular plates.--_Clamped_, is when a piece of board is fitted with the grain to the end of another piece of board across the grain.