cit n. derogatory term for citizen or city folk
cittern n. wire-string instrument similar to guitar, having a flat pear-shaped soundbox and asymmetric neck
clabber v. to curdle
clapboard n. board with one edge thicker than the other, used to weatherboard walls of buildings
clapper bridge n. old style of bridge in which large stone slabs are laid across a creek or river, usually on stone piers
clarigation n. solemn demand for redress made through heralds prior to declaration of war
clastic adj. (geology) formed from pieces of broken older rocks
cleat n. knob or device (often metal) used to secure lines on a nautical vessel; protrusion on shoes etc. to provide extra traction; strip secured across something to provide stability or strength
cleave v. 1 to cut asunder
cleave v. 2 to stick fast; to adhere to (a person, principle, etc.)
cleek v. to seize with the hand, to clutch strongly or suddenly; to snatch
clement adj. temperate, mild; merciful
clepsydra n. ancient timekeeping device using discharge of water to measure time; water-clock
clerestory n. upper part of building rising above interior space so as to allow the entry of daylight through high windows
clew n. skein or ball of yarn, etc
climb the wooden hill to Bedfordshire v. to go to bed, to sleep British
clinamen n. the unpredictable swerve of atoms, in the philosophy of Lucretius
clinker n. fused matter left behind from burning combustible material in furnace or forge, piece of slag
clinker-built adj. of a ship’s hull built with the edges of its planks overlapping, as opposed to “carvel-built” ships where the planks are fitted side-by-side and flush with one another nautical
cloche n. glass cover placed over plants; bell-shaped cover for plates of food; close-fitting brimmed woman’s hat
cloistral adj. of or related to a cloister
clonic adj. of or related to spasmodic muscular convulsions
closestool n. (also close-stool) stool with hole in its seat, beneath which is a chamber pot
clothespress n. cabinet or wardrobe for storing clothes
clough n. valley or ravine with very steep sides, defile
clunch n. pale limestone rock mixture (sometimes with chalk or clay) used as building material
cob n. male swan
coble n. flat-bottomed fishing boat with lugsail used in salmon fishing in Scotland and North England
cochineal n. scarlet or crimson dye primarily used in cookery, made of a dried powder derived from the insect of the same name
cock a snook v. to show contempt; to make rude hand gesture with thumb on the nose with fingers extended idiom
cock-a-hoop adj. vaingloriously elated
cockalorum n. small-minded boaster, self-important person of little merit; boasting speech
cockchafer n. doodlebug, large brown European beetle
cocker n. 1 patron or promoter of cockfights; spaniel breed trained to start woodcocks
cocker v. 2 to pamper
cockshut n. twilight, evening obsolete
cocksparrer n. cocky youngster
cocotte n. prostitute
coffer n. sunken panel in a ceiling or soffit
cofferdam n. watertight enclosure pumped dry to create space where underwater work may proceed in normal conditions
coffle n. train of beasts, slaves, etc., chained together
cog v. to load dice so as to cheat; to cheat; to plagiarize
coign of vantage n. good position for observation or action
coistrel n. knave, scoundrel
collodion n. solution of gun-cotton in ether, used in photography and surgery
collop n. fold of fat flesh
colloquize v. to engage in conversation or dialogue
collywobbles n. rumbling in the intestines
colorable adj. seemingly true
colporteur n. hawker or seller of books
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