COMBATANTS. Men, or bodies of troops, engaged in battle with each other.
COMBERS. Heavy surges breaking on a beach.
COMBERS, Grass. Men who volunteer from the plough-tail, and often prove valuable seamen.
COMBING THE CAT. The boatswain, or other operator, running his fingers through the cat o' nine tails, to separate them.
COMBINGS. See [Coamings].
COMBING SEA. A rolling and crested wave.
COMBUSTION. Burning, &c. (See [Spontaneous Combustion].)
COME NO NEAR! The order to the helmsman to steer the ship on the course indicated, and not closer to the wind, while going "full and by."—Come on board, sir. An officer reporting himself to his superior on returning from duty or leave.—Come to. To bring the ship close to the wind.—Come to an anchor. To let go the anchor.—Come up! with a rope or tackle, is to slack it off.—Comes up, with the helm. A close-hauled ship comes up (to her course) as the wind changes in her favour. To come up with or overhaul a vessel chased.—Come up the capstan. Is to turn it the contrary way to that which it was heaving, so as to take the strain off, or slacken or let out some of the cablet or rope which is about it.—Come up the tackle-fall. Is to let go.—To come up, in ship-building, is to cast loose the forelocks or lashings of a sett, in order to take in closer to the plank.
COMING-HOME. Said of the anchor when it has been dropped on bad holding ground, or is dislodged from its bed by the violence of the wind and sea, and is dragged along by the vessel, or is tripped by insufficient length of cable.—Coming round on her heel. Turning in the same spot.—Coming the old soldier. Petty manœuvring.—Coming-up glass. (See [Double-image Micrometer].)