CON, or CONN, in sea language, signifies to guide or conduct a ship in her right course. He that cons her, stands aloft with a compass before him, and gives the word of direction to the man at the helm how he is to steer. If the ship go before the wind, or, as they call it, betwixt the sheets, the word is either Starboard, or Port the helm; according as the conder would have the helm put to the right or left side of the ship, upon which the ship always goes the contrary way. If he says, Helm a midship, he would have the ship to go right before the wind, or directly between her two sheets. If the ship sail by a wind, or on a quarter wind, the word is, Aloof, keep your luff, fall not off, veer no more, keep her to, touch the wind, have a care of the lee-latch: all which expressions are of the same import, and imply that the steersman should keep the ship near the wind. On the contrary, if he would have her sail move large, or more before the wind, the word is, Ease the helm, no near, bear up. If he cries Steady, it means, keep her from going in and out, or making yaws (as they call it), howsoever she sails, whether large or before a wind: and when he would have her go just as she does, he cries, Keep her thus, thus, &c.