CONVEXITY. The curved limb of the moon; an outward curve.
CONVICT-SHIP. A vessel appropriated to the convicts of a dockyard; also one hired to carry out convicts to their destination.
CONVOY. A fleet of merchant ships similarly bound, protected by an armed force. Also, the ship or ships appointed to conduct and defend them on their passage. Also, a guard of troops to escort a supply of stores to a detached force.
CONVOY-INSTRUCTIONS. The printed regulations supplied by the senior officer to each ship of the convoy.
CONVOY-LIST. A return of the merchantmen placed under the protection of men-of-war, for safe conduct to their destination.
COOK. A man of each mess who is caterer for the day, and answerable too, wherefore he is allowed the surplus grog, termed [plush] (which see). The cook, par excellence, in the navy, was a man of importance, responsible for the proper cooking of the food, yet not overboiling the meat to extract the fat—his perquisite. The coppers were closely inspected daily by the captain, and if they soiled a cambric handkerchief the cook's allowance was stopped. Now, the ship's cook is a first-class petty officer, and cannot be punished as heretofore. In a merchantman the cook is, ex officio, the hero of the fore-sheet, as the steward is of the main one.
COOKING A DAY'S WORK. To save the officer in charge. Reckoning too is cooked, as in a certain Antarctic discovery of land, which James Ross afterwards sailed over.
COOK-ROOM, or Cook-house. The galley or caboose containing the cooking apparatus, and where victuals are dressed.
COOLIE, Couley, Kouli, or Chuliah. A person who carries a load; a porter or day-labourer in India and China.
COOMB. The Anglo-Saxon comb; a low place inclosed with hills; a valley. (See [Cwm].)