CHALDRON

, of Coals, an English dry measure of capacity consisting of 36 bushels heaped up.

The chaldron of coals is accounted to weigh about 2000 pounds.—On ship board, 21 chaldrons of coals are allowed to the score.

CHAMBER of a Mortar, or some cannon, is a cell or cavity at the bottom of the bore, to receive the charge of powder.

It is not found by experience that chambers have | any sensible effect on the velocity of the shot, unless in the largest ordnance, as mortars or very large cannon. Neither is it found that the form of them is very material; a small cylinder is as good as any; though mathematical speculations may shew a preference of one form over another. But in practice, the chief point to be observed, is to have the chamber of a size just to contain the charge of powder, and no more, that the ball may lie colse to the charge; and that its entrance may point exactly to the centre of the ball.

previous entry · index · next entry

ABCDEFGHKLMNOPQRSTWXYZABCEGLMN

Entry taken from A Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary, by Charles Hutton, 1796.

This text has been generated using commercial OCR software, and there are still many problems; it is slowly getting better over time. Please don't reuse the content (e.g. do not post to wikipedia) without asking liam at holoweb dot net first (mention the colour of your socks in the mail), because I am still working on fixing errors. Thanks!

previous entry · index · next entry

CENTRUM
CEPHEUS
CERBERUS
CETUS
CHAIN
* CHALDRON
CHAMBERS (Ehhraim)
CHAMBRANLE
CHAMFER
CHAMFERING
CHANCE