CALVE'S TONGUE. A sort of moulding usually made at the caps and bases of round pillars, to taper or hance the round part to the square.
CAMBER. The part of a dockyard where cambering is performed, and timber kept. Also, a small dock in the royal yards, for the convenience of loading and discharging timber. Also, anything that curves upwards.—To camber, to curve ship-planks.
CAMBER-KEELED. Keel slightly arched upwards in the middle of the length, but not actually hogged.
CAMBOOSE. A form of [caboose] (which see).
CAMELS. All large ships are built, at St. Petersburg, in a dockyard off the Granite Quay, where the water is shallow; therefore a number of camels or caissons are kept at Cronstadt, for the purpose of carrying them down the river. Camels are hollow cases of wood, constructed in two halves, so as to embrace the keel, and lay hold of the hull of a ship on both sides. They are first filled with water and sunk, in order to be fixed on. The water is then pumped out, when the vessel gradually rises, and the process is continued until the ship is enabled to pass over the shoal. Similar camels were used at Rotterdam about 1690.
CAME-TO. Brought to an anchor.
CAMFER. See [Chamfer].
CAMISADO. A sudden surprise or assault of the enemy.
CAMOCK. A very early term for crooked timber.
CAMP. The whole extent of ground on which an army pitches its tents and lodges. (See [Decamp].)