CARTHOUN. The ancient cannon royal, carrying a 66-lb. ball, with a point blank range of 185 paces, and an extreme one of about 2000. It was 12 feet long and of 8-1/2 inches diameter of bore.
CARTOUCH-BOX. The accoutrement which contains the musket-cartridges: now generally called a pouch.
CART-PIECE. An early battering cannon mounted on a peculiar cart.
CARTRIDGE. The case in which the exact charge of powder for fire-arms is made up--of paper for small-arms, of flannel for great guns, or of sheet metal for breech-loading muskets. For small-arms generally the cartridge contains the bullet as well as the powder, and in the case of most breech-loaders, the percussion priming also; in the case of some very light pieces the shot is included, and then named a round of "fixed ammunition;" and for breech-loading guns some sort of lubricator is generally inclosed in the forward end of the cartridge.
CARTRIDGE-BOX. A cylindrical wooden box with a lid sliding upon a handle of small rope, just containing one cartridge, and used for its safe conveyance from the magazine to the gun--borne to and fro by powder-monkeys (boys) of old. The term is loosely applied to the ammunition pouch.
CARVED WORK. The ornaments of a ship which are wrought by the carver.
CARVEL. A light lateen-rigged vessel of small burden, formerly used by the Spaniards and Portuguese. Also, a coarse sea-blubber, on which turtles are said to feed.
CARVEL-BUILT. A vessel or boat, the planks of which are all flush and smooth, the edges laid close to each other, and caulked to make them water-tight: in contradistinction to clinker-built, where they overlap each other.
CARY. _See_ MOTHER CARY'S CHICKEN. _Procellaria pelagica_.
CASCABLE. That generally convex part of a gun which terminates the breech end of it. The term includes the usual button which is connected to it by the neck of the cascable.
CASCADE. A fall of water from a considerable height, rather by successive stages than in a single mass, as with a cataract.
CASCO. A rubbish-lighter of the Philippine Islands.
CASE-BOOK. A register or journal in which the surgeon records the cases of all the sick and wounded, who are placed under medical treatment.
CASEMATE. In fortification, a chamber having a vaulted roof capable of resisting vertical fire, and affording embrasures or loop-holes to contribute to the defence of the place: without these it would be merely a bomb-proof.