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Ceiling Joists. Joists to which the ceiling of a room is attached 

 a term derived from the purpose to which the " joists '' 

 are applied. 



Centre-piece. Usually an imposing ornament of plaster or com- 

 position fixed (in some cases hung by copper cords) in the 

 centre of a plaster ceiling. In a " groined ceiling," or the 

 roof of a " vaulted ceiling," it becomes a " boss." 



Centring. Temporary wooden supports placed under vaults 

 and arches to sustain them whilst they are in building; 

 they usually remain in position until the material they 

 support is properly set. The act of removal is termed 

 " Striking the centres." 



Certificate of Origin. A Government certificate stating the 

 country of origin to enable the re-entry of the wood into 

 the country of production free of duty. 



Chamber. A room or apartment distinguished from a hall, 

 chapel, etc. A great chamber usually adjoined or was con- 

 tiguous to a hall, and answered to the modern drawing 

 room (properly withdrawing room). 



Chamfer, Plain or Moulded. An angle slightly pared off is said 

 to be " chamfered " : where not continuous the original 

 angle remains, in which case the work is termed " Stop 

 chamfered," and the " stops " may be moulded, shaped or 

 carved. See " Stop-chamfer." 



Charcoal and Charcoal Burners. A class of coal distinguished 

 from coal won from the earth by mining, the latter known 

 in the Middle Ages as " sea-coal," from that coal being 

 largely conveyed from the Tyne district by water to London. 

 Charcoal is the residue of wood slowly burned or smothered 

 in piles under coverings of stone, earth, turf, etc., the men 

 employed being known as " charcoal burners." It is a 

 superior form of fuel for smelting ores, feeding forges or 

 warming houses, and an ingredient in the manufacture of 

 gunpowder. It takes 10 tons of wood to make 2 tons of 

 charcoal. 



Charterparty. The name given to a contract in writing, between 

 the owner or master of a ship and the freighter, by which 

 the former hires or lets the ship, or a principal part of the ship, 

 under certain specified conditions, for the conveyance of the 

 goods of the freighter to some particular place or places. 

 Generally, however, a charterparty is a contract for the use of 

 the whole ship. 



Check. A longitudinal crack in timber caused by too rapid 

 seasoning. To prevent wide boards from season checks 



