DICTIONARY OF

Cut Splice 105 Cynosure
Cut Splice. Made by splicing one rope to another at a little distance from end of each, so
leaving a small length where ropes lie side by side.
Cutter. Sailing vessel with one mast, bowsprit and fore and aft sails. Carries mainsail, fore
staysail and jib. 2. Twelve oared rowing and sailing boat of R.N. 3. Revenue vessel,
generally steam-propelled, that superseded previous revenue cutters. 4. Boat that follows
racing boats, carrying trainers and coaches.
Cutter Stay Fashion. Method of setting up lower rigging. End of lanyard has knot in end,
and is then rove through upper and lower deadeyes. Normally, standing end of lanyard was
made fast away from deadeye. Name is also applied to a deadeye held in a running eye, or
clinch, at end of shroud.
Cutting. Said of high-water levels that decrease as tide changes from spring to neap.
Cutting Down Line. Curved line on sheer plan. Passes through lowest point of inner surface
of each of the frames.
Cutting Out. Capturing an enemy vessel in a port of her own country and taking her away.
Cuttle, Captain. Generous, simple and delightful shipmaster in Dickens' 'Dombey and Son.'
His motto was, 'When found, make a note of.'
Cutwater. Forward edge of stem.
Cycle. Period in which a series of events will occur, after which they will repeat themselves.
Cyclone. Rotary storm in tropical latitudes. An area of low barometric pressure, though
these are usually called in temperate latitudes 'Depressions' or 'Lows'.
Cyclonic Rain. Rainfall associated with cyclones. Caused by elevation of an air mass that
moves over a denser air mass of different temperature.
Cyclostrophic. Name applied to that component which causes a gradient wind to move
outwards from its axis of rotation due to curvature of path.
Cygnus. (Swan.) Constellation between Lyra and Pegasus. Principal star is Deneb.
Cylinder. Of engine, is a tubular chamber in which piston moves reciprocally.
Cylindrical Projection. Projection of surface of sphere to inside surface of a cylinder that
touches sphere on one line. Projection is by straight lines from centre of sphere. Mercator's
Projection is not of this type, though it may resemble it.
Cynosure. Constellation Ursa Major. Name was given to Polaris. As it is Greek for 'dog's
tail', it is obvious that the constellation was looked upon as resembling a dog.