Canticle, a parish clerk.
Canting, preaching with a whining affected tone, perhaps a corruption of chaunting; some derive it from Andrew Cant, a famous Scotch preacher, who used that whining manner of expression. Also, a kind of gibberish used by thieves and gipseys, called, likewise, pedlar’s French.
Catamaran, an old scraggy woman; from a kind of float, made of spars and yards lashed together, for saving shipwrecked persons.
Catch Club, a member of the catch club; a bum bailiff.
Chanticleer, a cock.
Charactered, or Lettered, burnt in the hand. They have palmed the character upon him, they have burned him in the hand.
Charm, a picklock.
Chates, the gallows.
Chanter culls, grub-street writers, who compose songs and carrols for ballad singers.