CLOW. A kind of sluice in which the aperture is regulated by a board sliding in a frame and groove.
CLOY, To. To drive an iron spike by main force into the vent or touch-hole of a gun, which renders it unserviceable till the spike be either worked out, or a new vent drilled. (See [Nailing] and [Spiking].)
CLUBBED. A fashion which obtained in the time of pig-tails of doubling them up while at sea.
CLUBBING. Drifting down a current with an anchor out.
CLUBBING A FLEET. Manœuvring so as to place the first division on the windward side.
CLUBBOCK. The spotted blenny or gunnel (Gunnellus vulgaris).
CLUB-HAUL, To. A method of tacking a ship by letting go the lee-anchor as soon as the wind is out of the sails, which brings her head to wind, and as soon as she pays off, the cable is cut and the sails trimmed; this is never had recourse to but in perilous situations, and when it is expected that the ship would otherwise miss stays. The most gallant example was performed by Captain Hayes in H.M.S. Magnificent, 74, in Basque Roads, in 1814, when with lower-yards and top-masts struck, he escaped between two reefs from the enemy at Oleron. He bore the name of Magnificent Hayes to the day of his death, for the style in which he executed it.
CLUB-LAW. The rule of violence and strength.
CLUE. Of a square sail, either of the lower corners reaching down to where the tacks and sheets are made fast to it; and is that part which comes goring out from the square of the sail.
CLUE-GARNETS. A sort of tackle rove through a garnet block, attached to the clues of the main and fore sails to haul up and truss them to the yard; which is termed clueing up those sails as for goose-wings, or for furling. (See [Block].)