Cainozoic
(Cai`no*zo"ic) a. (Geol.) See Cenozic.
Caïque
(||Ca*ïque") n. [F., fr. Turk. qaiq boat.] (Naut.) A light skiff or rowboat used on the Bosporus; also,
a Levantine vessel of larger size.
Ça ira
(||Ça" i*ra") [F. ça ira, ça ira, les aristocrates à la lanterne, it shall go on,
it shall go on, [hang]the arictocrats to the lantern ] The refrain of a famous song of the French Revolution.
Caird
(Caird) n. [Ir. ceard a tinker.] A traveling tinker; also a tramp or sturdy beggar. [Prov. Eng.]
Cairn
(Cairn) n. [Gael. carn, gen. cairn, a heap: cf. Ir. & W. carn.]
1. A rounded or conical heap of stones erected by early inhabitants of the British Isles, apparently as a
sepulchral monument.
Now here let us place the gray stone of her cairn.
Campbell.
2. A pile of stones heaped up as a landmark, or to arrest attention, as in surveying, or in leaving traces
of an exploring party, etc. C. Kingsley. Kane.
Cairngormstone
(Cairn*gorm"stone`) [Gael. carn a cairn + gorm azure.] (Min.) A yellow or smoky
brown variety of rock crystal, or crystallized quartz, found esp, in the mountain of Cairngorm, in Scotland.
Caisson
(Cais"son) n. [F., fr. caisse, case, chest. See 1st Case.]
1. (Mil.) (a) A chest to hold ammunition. (b) A four-wheeled carriage for conveying ammunition,
consisting of two parts, a body and a limber. In light field batteries there is one caisson to each piece,
having two ammunition boxes on the body, and one on the limber. Farrow. (c) A chest filled with explosive
materials, to be laid in the way of an enemy and exploded on his approach.
2. (a) A water-tight box, of timber or iron within which work is carried on in building foundations or
structures below the water level. (b) A hollow floating box, usually of iron, which serves to close the
entrances of docks and basins. (c) A structure, usually with an air chamber, placed beneath a vessel
to lift or float it.
3. (Arch.) A sunk panel of ceilings or soffits.
Pneumatic caisson (Engin.), a caisson, closed at the top but open at the bottom, and resting upon
the ground under water. The pressure of air forced into the caisson keeps the water out. Men and materials
are admitted to the interior through an air lock. See Lock.
Caitiff
(Cai"tiff) a. [OE. caitif, cheitif, captive, miserable, OF. caitif, chaitif, captive, mean, wretched, F.
chétif, fr. L. captivus captive, fr. capere to take, akin to E. heave. See Heave, and cf. Captive.]
1. Captive; wretched; unfortunate. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Base; wicked and mean; cowardly; despicable.
Arnold had sped his caitiff flight.
W. Irving.
Caitiff
(Cai"tiff), n. A captive; a prisoner. [Obs.]
Avarice doth tyrannize over her caitiff and slave.
Holland.
2. A wretched or unfortunate man. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. A mean, despicable person; one whose character meanness and wickedness meet.
