CARBIN. A name in our northern isles for the basking shark.
CARBINE, or Carabine. A fire-arm of less length and weight than a musket, originally carrying a smaller ball, though latterly, for the convenience of the supply of ammunition, throwing the same bullet as the musket, though with a smaller charge. It has been proper to mounted troops since about A.D. 1556, and has been preferred to the musket as a weapon for the tops of ships as well as boats.
CARCASS. An iron shell for incendiary purposes, filled with a very fiercely flaming composition of saltpetre, sulphur, resin, turpentine, antimony, and tallow. It has three vents for the flame, and sometimes is equipped with pistol barrels, so fitted in its interior as to discharge their bullets at various times.
CARCASS OF A SHIP. The ribs, with keel, stem, and stern-post, after the planks are stripped off.
CARCATUS [from caricato, It.] A law-term for a freighted ship.
CARD. The dial or face of the magnetic compass-card.
"Reason the card, but passion is the gale."—Pope.
Probably derived from cardinal.
CARDINAL POINTS. The general name by which the north, east, south, and west rhumbs of the horizon are distinguished.
CARDINAL POINTS OF THE ECLIPTIC. The equinoctial and solstitial points; namely, the commencement of Aries and Libra, and of Cancer and Capricornus.