- C -

cabaret (n) – A restaurant that serves liquor and provides entertainment (singers and dancers); a nightclub

cacique (n) – An Indian chief, especially in the Spanish West Indies and other part of Latin America during colonial and postcolonial times; at The Island School, the student leader "in charge" each day

cacophony (n) – Jarring, discordant sounds; noise

cadastral (adj) – Relating to property lines

caddis fly (n) – Any of an order of small, mothlike insects with a soft body, long antennae and legs, and two pairs of hairy, membranous wings

cadet (n) – Student in a naval or military officers’ training school

calamari (n) – Squid cooked as food

calcareous (adj) – Made of calcium carbonate

calcified (adj) – Changed from its original form to a hard, stony substance due to the deposit of lime or calcium salts

calcium carbonate (n) – A white powder or colorless, crystalline compound, CaCO₃, found mainly in limestone, marble, and chalk, and in bones, teeth, shells, and plant ash

caldera (n) – The crater-like basin of an erupted volcano, formed by the explosion or collapse of the volcano’s cone

calipers (n) – A tool with two moveable legs used to measure the length of an object

call sign (n) – A set of numbers and letters by which a ship’s radio operator can be identified

CALM (n) – In Class Afloat, an acronym for the Career & Life Management class

calypso (adj) – Relating to music, characterized by its wrenched syllabic stress and syncopated rhythms, and originally sung by natives of Trinidad

camaraderie (n) – A spirit of friendly good-fellowship

camouflage (v) – To blend in with one’s surroundings

camouflage (adj) – Blending in with the surroundings

campesino (n) – The Spanish word for a man or woman from the country

cane toad (n) – A venomous, large, heavily built amphibian, Bufo marinus, introduced into Queensland, Australia, in 1935 to control two sugar cane pests

canine (adj) – Of or relating to one of the pointed conical teeth located between the incisors and the first bicuspids

cannery (n) – A factory where foods are canned

canopy (n) – The upper layer or strata of trees in the rainforest that are 60 to 90 feet tall

cant (n) – To lean to one side; slant

cantina (n) – A small restaurant where one can obtain food and refreshment

cape (n) – A piece of land that projects into a body of water; promontory; headland

Cape Horn (n) – The cape of Horn Island, located in Tierra del Fuego, Chile, which is the southernmost point of South America; the ocean surrounding this area is traditionally one of the stormiest in the world

cap rail (n) – The top of the bulwark or rail at the outer edge of a deck

capital (n) – Wealth in the form of money or property

capsize (v) – To overturn

capstan (n) – Large manual winch used for any extremely heavy lifting; especially the raising of the anchor

car (n) – A sliding fitting that attaches to a track, allowing for the adjustment of blocks or other devices attached to the car

carapace (n) – A protective shell which covers the back of certain animals

carbon sink (n) – A term referring to the trees and plants of a rainforest or other heavily vegetated area that stores a great amount of the world’s carbon

carcass (n) – The dead body of an animal

career (v) – To move at full speed

cargo (n) – The goods, merchandise or freight carried by a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

Carib (n) – A member of a native American people who formerly inhabited the West Indies and the northern coast of South America

Carnival (n) – A traditional period of feasting and revelry which occurs just before the religious observance of Lent

carnivore (n) – An organism that eats only animals

carnivorous (adj) – Having characteristics of a carnivore; meat-eating

carrying capacity (n) – 1 : The maximum population of a given species that can be supported sustainably by the resources within a particular habitat  2 : The limit of resource use in an area beyond which resource use is not sustainable

casque (n) – A helmet-like part of a cassowary’s head

cassava (n) – A American tropical plant with edible starchy roots, often used in making bread and tapioca

cassowary (n) – A flightless bird of the forest; they stand 1.2 to 1.8 meters (about 4 to 6 feet) high and can run as fast as 48 kilometers per hour (30 miles per hour) when frightened

casting net (n) – A net that is thrown (or cast) out into the water from a boat or shoreline

cast off (v) – To let go; depart

casuarina (n) – A tree native to Australia and having leaves similar to the feathers of a cassowary bird

cat o’ nine tails (n) – A whip made of nine knotted cords attached to a handle

catalyst (n) – Something that acts as a stimulus to bring about or hasten a result

catamaran (n) – A boat built with two parallel hulls

catapult (v) – To shoot or launch from

catchment area (n) – A structure, such as a basin or reservoir, used for collecting or draining water, especially rainwater

cathedral (n) – A type of church

caudal fin (n) – A tailfin

cauliflory (n) – A condition in which a tree produces flowers on its trunk rather than on its stems or branches

caulking (n) – A usually impermeable substance packed into the seams of a constructed object (e.g., boat, house, etc.) to make it watertight

causeway (n) – A raised path or road across wet ground or water

caustic (adj) – Corrosive; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

cay (n) – A low island, coral reef or sandbank off a mainland

celestial (adj) – Of the heavens, the sky or the universe (e.g., planets, stars, sun, moon, etc.)

celestial body (n) – A sun, moon, star or planet in the sky

celestial navigation (n) – Navigation in which one’s position is determined from observations of the sun, moon, stars or planets

centennial (n) – A 100^th anniversary or a celebration of it

centerboard (n) – A movable board or metal plate that is lowered through a slot in the floor of a sailboat to reduce drift and increase stability

centrality (n) – The state or quality of being central or a celebration of it

centrifugal force (n) – A force that tends to pull a thing outward when it is rotating around a center

centripetal force (n) – A force that tends to pull things inward when it is rotating around a center

cephalopod (n) – Any of a class of marine mollusks having a distinct head with highly developed eyes and varying numbers of arms (with suckers), attached to the head about the mouth; e.g., octopus, squid, etc.

cetacean (n) – A marine mammal of the order Cetacea, characterized by nearly hairless, fishlike features, a lack of external hind limbs, and paddlelike forelimbs (e.g., whales, dolphins, porpoises)

chafe (v) – To wear away by rubbing

chafe (n) – Wear produced by rubbing or friction

chafe gear (n) – See chafe guard

chafe guard (n) – Material that is wrapped around a line on a boat that prevents chafe; it prevents the line from rubbing on another part of the boat; also see chafe gear

chandler (n) – A person in a port who deals in the selling of ship provisions, supplies and equipment

channel (n) – A body of water joining to larger bodies of water; the deeper part of a river or harbor

chanty (n) – A song sung by sailors to the rhythm of their movement while working

chaps (n) – Specialized horse-riding pants worn over workpants; traditionally made of leather

charisma (n) – Personal magnetism or charm

Charlie Noble (n) – The stack on the galley stove

chart (n) – A map used in marine navigation

chela (n) – A pincerlike claw of a crab, lobster, etc.; singular form of chelae

Chesapeake Bay (n) – A shallow, 200-mile long arm of the Atlantic Ocean which extends north into Virginia and Maryland

chief of the watch (n) – On a boat, the crew member in charge of a watch team

chiton (n) – A small marine mollusk

chlorophyll (n) – The photosynthetic pigment found chiefly in plant cells

chronic (n) – lasting for a long period of time

chronometer (n) – A clock or watch of the highest possible accuracy, used on ships to determine longitude

chuckwalla (n) – A variety of large, edible iguana

cicada (n) – A large, fly-like insect with transparent wings; the male makes a loud, shrill sound by vibrating a special organ on his underbelly

cilia (n) – Hairs along the margin or edge of a leaf or other plant structure, usually forming a fringe

cinder cone (n) – A steep, conical hill of volcanic fragments that accumulate around and downwind from a vent

circuit (n) – A complete or partial path over which electrical current may flow

circumnavigate (v) – To sail around (the world)

circumnavigation (n) – The act of sailing or flying around the globe, an island or other area

cistern (n) – A receptacle for holding water or other liquid, especially a tank for catching and storing rainwater

civil twilight (n) – The time periods beginning before sunrise and ending after sunset when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon; characterized by illumination sufficient to distinguish terrestrial objects and the horizon clearly; carry out ordinary outdoor activities; and see the brightest stars under good atmospheric conditions

clarity (n) – The quality or condition of being clear

class (n) – The third largest categorical level of biological taxonomy, ranking below kingdom and phylum, and above order, family, genus and species

classify (v) – To arrange according to common traits

clear-cut (v) – To harvest all the trees in a portion of a forest; it leaves the ground bare and susceptible to erosion

clew (n) – The lower aft corner of a mainsail or jib, or either lower corner of a square sail

clewline (n) – A line attached to the lower aft corner of a mainsail or jib, or either lower corner of a square sail

client  (n) – A customer

climate (n) – The average weather conditions of a particular locale

climatic (adj) – Related to climate

climax species (n) – A plant species that is part of the final stage in plant succession for a given environment

clinometer (n) – An instrument used to measure an angle to determine the height of a tree; a variant of this tool is also used to measure the dip in rock strata or the degree of slope

clip in (v) – To clip a harness to fixed rigging to prevent a person in the rigging from falling to the deck

clipper (n) – A sharp-bowed, narrow-beamed sailing ship built for great speed

cloaca (n) – A common cavity into which the intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts open in vertebrates such as fish, reptiles, birds, and some primitive mammals

close-hauled (adj) – With sails trimmed flat for sailing as close to the wind as possible

close reach (adj) – Sailing with the wind coming from the direction forward of the beam of the boat.

clove hitch (n) – A hitch used to tie a line to a fixed object such as a piling or rail

cnidarian (n) – Any of a phylum of invertebrate animals. Cnidarians are mainly marine and characterized by stinging cells and a saclike body cavity with a single opening for ingesting food and eliminating waste.

coalesce (v) – To come together so as to form one whole; unite

cob (n) – An alternative, natural house construction material; a mixture of sand clay and straw that is wet enough to mold yet dry enough to build up without forms

cobblestone (n) – A rounded stone used for paving streets

cobra (n) – Any of several poisonous snakes of Asia and Africa that have loose skin around the neck that expands into a hood when the snake is excited

cockpit (n) – A sunken space in the deck of a boat, usually towards the stern and for use by the helmsman

cod (n) – A bony white fish with firm flesh and soft fins, found in northern seas; important as a source of cod-liver oil and food

coelacanth (n) – An order of bony fishes, once thought to be extinct but rediscovered in the 1920s

coffee rust (n) – A fungus that grows on coffee trees; defoliates the tree and can eventually kill it; the spores of the fungus are spread by wind, rain, and possibly insects

coliform (adj) – Of or relating to a type of bacteria (bacilli) that commonly inhabit the intestines of human beings and other vertebrates

colonize (v) – To form or establish a colony or colonies

colony (n) – A group of similar plants or animals living or growing together

Colors (n) – A ceremony on board a ship in which flags are raised; aboard Concordia, Colors takes place at 0800 hours

columnar (adj) – In the shape of a column or pillar

come about (v) – A nautical term meaning to change course so that the sail(s) shift from one side of the boat to the other; to tack

commercial fishing (n) – Fishing as a source of income

commissioned (officer) (adj) – An appointed military officer; a military officer holding rank by commission

commodity (n) – Anything bought or sold; basic useful items or staples

common property resources (n) – Resources that are available for everyone in a community to use, such as parks, lakes, rivers, and oceans

communism (n) – An economic theory or system based on the ownership of all property by the community as a whole

communist (n) – One who advocates and/or supports communism

community (n) – Several populations of plants and animals coexisting in a common environment

companionway (n) – Hallway or ladder passage aboard a ship

compass (n) – 1 : An instrument consisting of two pointed legs connected by a pivot, used for taking navigational measurements aboard a ship  2 : An instrument that shows direction, especially with the aid of a magnetic needle which swings freely and points to magnetic north

compass rose (n) – On a nautical chart, one of several circular figures several inches in diameter and containing three concentric circular scales, with which one can plot one’s location

compensate (v) – To make an appropriate payment to

compensation (n) – The act of making a payment in exchange for something else

competition (n) – The struggle among organisms for food, water, living space, etc.

compilation (n) – A collection of documents or materials, put together in an orderly format

compile (v) – To gather and put together in orderly form

compost (n) – Decayed organic material that can be used for fertilizing, usually consisting of food items

compound (n) – In chemistry, a substance consisting of two or more elements

comprehensive (adj) – Taking all or many relevant details into account

compress (v) – To press together or compact

concession (n) – The acknowledged right to use a particular geographic area or resource for a specific purpose or profit (e.g., fishing cooperatives have concessions to fish for particular species)

conch (n) – A marine mollusk, often edible, with a large spiral shell

condensation (n) – The process by which gas turns into a liquid

condense (v) – To change from a gas into a liquid

condiment (n) – A seasoning or relish for food such as pepper, salt, ketchup, mustard, etc.

conducive (adj) – Helpful, beneficial

cone (n) – In geological terms, the peak of a volcano

Confederacy (n) – The league of Southern States that seceded from the United States in 1860 and 1861 (AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA), leading to the American Civil War

Confederate (adj) – Refers to any member or supporter of the Confederacy, the league of Southern States that seceded from the United States in 1860 and 1861 (AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA), leading to the American Civil War

confined (adj) – Restricted, with defined limits or boundaries

confines (n) – The limits of a space or an area

confiscate (v) – To seize something (often private property), usually as a penalty for misbehavior or illegal actions

conical (adj) – In the shape of a cone

conjugate (v) – To inflect a verb in its forms to distinguish number, person, voice, mood and tense

conquistador (n) – Any of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico, Peru or other parts of America in the 16^th century

conscientious (adj) – Principled; thorough

conscription (n) – Mandatory enrollment of people, especially for military service

conservation (n) – The management and preservation of natural resources

conservationist (n) – Someone who promotes the use and sustainable management of a resource

conservative (adj) – Moderate; cautious; safe

conservatively (adv) – Restrained in style

constellation (n) – A grouping of stars, named after an object, animal or mythological being that it suggests in outline (e.g., the Big Dipper)

constituent (n) – Component

constitution (n) – The system of fundamental laws and principles of a government or state

constrict (v) – To make narrow, compress, or squeeze

constriction (n) – The act of constricting or squeezing

constrictor (n) – A snake that kills its prey by wrapping itself around the animal and crushing it

consume (v) – To eat or drink

consumer (n) – An organism that obtains nutrients by eating other organisms

consumption (n) – The using up of goods or services

containerization (n) – The practice of packing cargo in huge, standardized containers for more efficient shipping and transfer from one form of transport to another

container port (n) – A port which specializes in the transfer of cargo aboard container ships

container ship (n) – A large variety of cargo ship upon which all cargo is stored in large metal boxes for ease of transfer

contaminant (n) – A substance that contaminates

contaminate (v) – To make impure, unclean; to pollute

contend (v) – To strive against difficulties; struggle

continent (n) – A large area of land, particularly any of the main large land areas of the Earth, including North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and Antarctica

continental drift (n) – The theory that continents slowly shift their positions as a result of currents in the molten rocks of the earth’s mantle

continental margin (n) – The edge of a continental plate

continental plate (n) – One of the many rock plates which make up the Earth’s crust, or outer shell

continental shelf (n) – The shallow underwater extension of a continent, usually limited to 200 meters in depth

contraband (n) – Unlawful or prohibited trade

control (n) – A subject of an experiment that is not altered and is later compared to altered subjects at the end of the experiment

controlled burning – A method of deliberately burning a section of forest or land to prevent severe, uncontrolled fires; a type of fire prevention

controversial (adj) – Subject to debate, dispute, or quarrel

convection current (n) – A current created by the heating and cooling of a liquid or gas

convene (v) – To come together or assemble, usually for an official or public purpose

conventional (adj) – Conforming to formal or accepted standards

cooper (n) – One who makes barrels or casks

cooperative (n) – A communal organization in which members share both the costs and revenues of a particular occupation (e.g., shrimp fishing)

coordinate (n) – Any of a set of numbers in a reference system (e.g., on a map) that determine the location of a point (or ship)

copepod (n) – Any of a class of small, sometimes parasitic, crustaceans living in either salt or fresh water

copious (adj) – Large in quantity; abundant

coppice (n) – A thicket of small trees or shrubs

coral head (n) – A grouping of coral that protrudes from a reef or the sea floor

coral snake (n) – Any of several small, poisonous, burrowing snakes found in the southern United States and subtropical America with coral-red, yellow, and black bands around its body

coralline algae (n) – A family of red algae that produces limestone

corallite (n) – The calcareous skeletal cup which surrounds each coral animal

correlate (v) – To calculate the reciprocal relationship between to objects, sets of data, etc.

correlation (n) – The relationship between two things or sets of data

corridor (n) – A narrow strip of vegetation which connects larger rainforest areas and provides a safe route and resting place for organisms moving from one rainforest area to another

corticosteroid (n) – An asthma medication that reduces swelling in the lung airways and prevents asthma attacks

coup (n) – Short for coup d’état, meaning the sudden forcible overthrow of a government, accomplished quickly and by surprise

course (n) – 1 : The direction in which a ship is moving, based on the 360-degree compass; also called a bearing   2 : The lowest yard on a mast; may also refer to the sail on the lowest yard

courtier (n) – An attendant at a royal court

covert (adj) – Not openly practiced, engaged in, or shown

coveted (adj) – Longingly wished for; desired

cowl vents (n) – Funnel-shaped vents designed to provide ventilation belowdecks

creature comforts (n) – Anything providing bodily comforts, as food, clothing, or shelter

Creole (n) – A form of mixed language that develops when speakers of two different languages remain in persistent and long-lasting contact with each other

crêpe (n) – The French word for a small, thin pancake

crêperie (n) – A restaurant that specializes in making crêpes

crepuscular (adj) – Active at dawn and dusk

crest (n) – The top or highest point of a wave

crevice (n) – A narrow crack or opening

cringle (n) – A ring sewn onto a sail so that a line may pass through

crosstree (n) – One of the two horizontal crosspieces at the upper ends of the lower masts of a vessel, used to spread the shrouds

crown (n) – The branches and foliage of a tree; the upper portion

crown cover (n) – The area covered by the crown of a tree

cruiser (n) – A class of light and fast warships with less armor and firepower than a battleship

cruising (v) – To sail about, touching at a series of ports

crustacean (n) – Any of a group of mainly marine invertebrate organisms having a hard outer shell and jointed appendages; e.g., lobsters, crabs, barnacles, and shrimp

culinary (adj) – Having to do with cooking or the kitchen

cull (v) – To select and remove from a group, to choose

culminate (v) – 1 : To come to completion; end  2 : To reach the highest point or degree; climax

culprit (n) – One guilty of a fault or crime

cultivate (v) – To prepare and use soil for growing crops; to grow plants from seeds, bulbs, shoots, etc.

cultivation (n) – The act of cultivating land

culvert (n) – A sewer or drain crossing under a road or embankment

curfew (n) – A time, usually in the evening, set as a deadline beyond which inhabitants of a place cannot appear in public places

current (n) – The horizontal motion of water, caused by tides, local winds and trade winds

curriculum (n) – All of the courses offered in a school or in a particular subject

curver box (n) – In the BT Global Challenge, a small plastic box used for storing personal gear aboard a boat

customs (n) – The government agency or office in charge of collecting taxes imposed on imported and/or exported goods

cut (n) – In nautical/marine terms, a passage or channel cut, dug out or worn away between two greater bodies of water

cutter (n) – Generally a single-masted fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel

cyclone (n) – A violent, clockwise-rotating, tropical storm, especially originating in the southwestern Pacific Ocean or Indian Ocean; called a hurricane in the northern hemisphere

cyclonic (adj) – Spinning

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