CAPTORS. The conquerors of and sharers in the proceeds of a prize. Captors are not at liberty to release prisoners belonging to the ships of the enemy. The last survivor is in law the only captor.
CAPTURE. A prize taken by a ship of war at sea; is the taking forcible possession of vessels or goods belonging to one nation by those of a hostile nation. Vessels are looked on as prizes if they fight under any other standard than that of the state from which they have their commission; if they have no charty-party, manifest, or bill of lading, or if loaded with effects belonging to the king's enemies, or even contraband goods. Whether the capture be lawful or unlawful, the insurer is rendered liable to the loss.
CAR. A north-country word, denoting any swampy land surrounded by inclosures, and occasionally under water.
CARABINEER. One who uses the carbine.
CARACK, Carrak, or Carrick. A large ship of burden, the same with those called galleons. Hippus, the Tyrian, is said to have first devised caracks, and onerary vessels of prodigious bulk for traffic or offence.
CARACORA. A proa of Borneo, Ternate, and the Eastern Isles; also called caracol by early voyagers.
CARAMOUSSAL. A Turkish merchant ship with a pink-stern.
CARAVEL, or Caravela. A Portuguese despatch boat, lateen-rigged, formerly in use; it had square sails only on the fore-mast, though dignified as a caravela.
CARAVELAO. A light pink-sterned vessel of the Azores.
CARBASSE. See [Karbatz].