in Heraldry. When any bird is drawn in a coat of arms with its wings close down about it, (i.e. not displayed), and in a standing posture, they blazon it by this word close; but if it be flying, they call it volant. See VOLANT.
Music. See CADENCE.
CLOSE-Hauled, in Navigation, the general arrangement or trim of a ship's sails when she endeavours to make a progress in the nearest direction possible towards that point of the compass from which the wind blows. In this manner of sailing, the keel commonly makes an angle of six points with the line of the wind; but sloops and some other small vessels are said to fall almost a point nearer. All vessels, however, are supposed to make nearly a point of leeway when close-hauled, even when they have the advantage of a good failing. failing breeze and smooth water. The angle of leeway, however, increases in proportion to the increase of the wind and sea. In this disposition of the sails, they are all extended side-wise on the ship, so that the wind as it crosses the ship obliquely toward the stern from forwards, may fill their cavities. But as the current of wind also enters the sails in an oblique direction, the effort of it to make the ship advance is considerably diminished: she will therefore make the least progress when failing in this manner. The ship is said to be clove-hauled, because at this time her tacks, or lower corners of the principal sails, are drawn close down to her side to windward, the sheets hauled close aft, and all the bow-lines drawn to their greatest extension to keep the sails steady.
Close-Quarters, certain strong barriers of wood, stretching across a merchant-ship in several places. They are used as places of retreat when a ship is boarded by her adversary, and are therefore fitted with several small loop-holes through which to fire the small arms, and thereby annoy the enemy, and defend themselves. They are likewise furnished with several caissons called powder-chests, which are fixed upon the deck, and filled with powder, old nails, &c., and may be fired at any time from the close-quarters upon the boarders.
We have known an English merchant-ship of 16 guns, and properly fitted with close-quarters, defeat the united efforts of three French privateers who boarded her in the last war, after having engaged at some distance nearly a day and a half, with very few intervals of rest. Two of the cruisers were equipped with twelve guns each, and the other with eight. The French sailors were, after boarding, so much exposed to continued fire of musketry and cohorns charged with granadoes, that a dreadful scene of carnage ensued, in which the decks were soon covered with the dead bodies of the enemy, several of which the boarders, in their hurry to escape, had left behind.