DICTIONARY OF

Canopus 67 Cap a Rope
Canopus. Star Argus. S.H.A. 264°; Dec. 53° S; Mag. —0-9. Diameter is 180 times
that of Sun; candlepower is 180 times greater; distant 650 light years. Named after
Egyptian god of water, or the city of same name.
Canopy. Canvas cover on metal frames. Placed over a hatch or companion way, and in
other places. Cant. Corner or angle. One of segments forming a side piece in head of cask.
2. To tilt in the vertical plane, or to incline in horizontal plane. 3. Cut made between neck
and fins of whale so that a hook can be attached for canting. 4. To roll-over a whale when
flensing.
Cant Blocks. Purchase blocks used when canting whales.
Cant Falls. Purchases used to sling a whale alongside.
Cant Frames. Short frames that support the overhanging counter of a vessel with an
elliptical stern.
Cant Hook. Lever with hook in lifting end. Used for lifting heavy weights.
Cantick Quoin. Triangular piece of wood used to prevent rolling of a cask.
Cantilever Beam. Girder with one end unsupported, and depending on its girder strength
to bear stresses on unsupported end.
Cantline. Groove between strands of a rope. 2. Groove between casks or bags when
stowed in rows.
Canton. Square division of a flag at its corner or corners.
Cant Piece. 'Cant timber.' Also, piece of timber put along edge or a side fish to strengthen
it.
Cant Purchase. Flensing purchase extending from mainmast head to a cut in a whale.
Cant Ribbon. That part of a gilded or painted moulding, along a ship's side, that sweeps
upward towards stem or stern.
Cant Spar. Pole or hand mast that is suitable for making a small mast or spar.
Cant Timber Abaft. Projection of after cant timber, which formed a chock on which
spanker boom rested when not in use.
Cant Timbers. Timbers, at extreme ends of a vessel, that are not perpendicular to keel;
those forward leaning slightly aft, those aft leaning slightly forward.
Canvas. Material made from flax, jute, cotton or hemp. Supplied in bolts of
approximately 40 yards. Usually 24 in. wide, but up to 72 in. in some materials. Graded in
numbers from 0 to 7, 0 being the heaviest. Cap. Fitting over the head of a mast, and in
which a mast above can be moved or confined.
Capabar (re).* Old name for misappropriation of Government stores.
Capacity Plan. Plan and/or sectional elevation of a vessel showing capacities of all holds,
bunkers, tanks, and other relevant compartments.
Cap a Rope. To cover the end with tarred canvas, or hessian, and then whip it.