CABIN - temporary shelter; a cave; the den of an animal
CABIN’D - to imprison or confine
CABLE - scope (a nautical metaphor used in Oth 1217)
CACODEMON - evil spirit
CADE - small barrel or keg (a barrel of herrings in 2kh6 4236)
CADDIS - worsted tape or binding used for garters
CADENT - falling
CADMUS - son of Agenor, King of Phoenicia, and the founder of Thebes
CADUCEUS - the wand of Mercury, around which two snakes are twined
CADWALADER - last king of the Welsh Known for his feats of valour against the Saxons
CAESAR - supreme ruler; emperor
CAGE (1) - a prison
CAGE (2) - a wicker-work basket
CAIN-COLOURED - red (supposed color of Cain’s hair)
CAITIFF - a wretch (used to express pity)
CALCULATE - prophesy
CALIVER - a hand-gun, lighter than a musket
CALLET, CALLAT, CALLOT - a woman of bad character
CALLING - appellation; title
CALM (1) - to becalm
CALM (2) - confused with “qualm” in 2KH4 3439
CAMEL - derrogatory name for an awkward person
CAMELOT - the court of King Arthur
CAN - to know, be skillful in
CANAKIN - small can or drinking vessel
CANARY (1) - a wine brought from the Canary Islands
CANARY (2) - lively Spanish dance
CANARY (3) - mistaken for “quandary” by Mrs Quickly in Wiv 2261
CANCER - the fourth sign of the zodiac
CANDIDATUS - candidate for Roman office, named after the white gown worn by Roman senators
CANDLE - a light made of wax and a wick; the stars; the “light” of the human spirit
CANDLE-CASE - case to store candles
CANDLE-HOLDER - one who lights others while they work
CANDLE-MINE - a mass of tallow
CANDLE-WASTER - one who wastes candles by studying late into the night
CANKER - a worm that destroys leaves; a spreading sore or ulcer
CANSTICK - a candlestick
CANTLE - a corner piece; part
CANTON - a song
CANVASS - to deal with severely; to toss
CANZONET - a short song
CAP - a head-covering; give up for lost; top, chief
CAPABLE - able to take in much; sensible; capable of; gifted
CAP-A-PE - from head to foot
CAPER - the flower of the caper-bush, used for pickling
CAPET - Hugh Capet, the first French king of the Capetian dynasty
CAPITULATE - propose terms; draw up a contract or agreement
CAPRICCIO - caprice
CAPRICIOUS - fantastic; whimsical
CAPTIOUS - capacious
CARACK - a large ship of burden
CARBONADO - meat scotched for broiling
CARD - playing-card; to mix with something foul
CAROUSE - a toast
CARKANET - a necklace
CARL - a churl
CASSIBELAN - King of Britain during Caesar’s reign
CASTILIAN - a native of Castile; used as a cant term
CATAIAN - a native of Cathay; a scoundrel
CATLING - catgut
CAUTEL - deceit
CAUTELOUS - deceitful
CAVALERO - a cavalier, gentleman
CAVIARE - roe of sturgeon pressed and salted (an acquired taste)
CEASE (1) - cessation
CEASE (2) - silence
CENSURE - judgment
CENSURE - to judge, criticise, blame
CENTURY - one hundred years or men
CEREMONY - an external accessory or a symbol of the state; a portent or omen (used thus in Shk only)
CERTES - certainly
CESS - rate, reckoning
CHACE - a term at tennis
CHAMBER - a species of great gun
CHAMBERER - an effeminate man
CHANSON - a song
CHARACT - affected quality
CHARACTER - a letter, handwriting
CHARACTER - to carve or engrave
CHARACTERY - handwriting
CHARE - a turn of work
CHARGE-HOUSE - a boarding-school
CHARNECO - a type of wine
CHAUDRON - entrails
CHEQUIN - sequin, gold coin of Turkey and Italy
CHEQUES - perhaps intended for ethics
CHEER - fortune, countenance
CHERRY-PIT - a game played with cherrystones
CHEVERIL - kid leather
CHEWIT - cough
CHILDING - pregnant
CHILL - ‘I will’
CHIRURGEONLY - like a skilled surgeon
CHOPINE - a high shoe with a cork sole, worn in Renaissance Italy and Spain
CHRISTENDOM - the state of being a Christian
CHRISTOM CHILD - child in its christening garment
CHUCK - chick (term of endearment)
CHUFF - avaricious person
CINQUE-PACE - a lively dance
CIPHER (1) - zero, a mere nothing
CIPHER (2) - to decipher
CIRCUMSTANCE - a condition; the state of affairs
CITAL - mention, recite
CITE - to call or arouse
CLACK-DISH - a beggar’s wooden dish
CLAW - to seize; to scratch; to flatter or cajole
CLEPE - to call
CLIFF - clef, the key in music
CLING - to starve
CLINQUANT - glittering
CLIP - to embrace, enclose
CLOUT - the mark in the middle of a target
COAST - to advance
COBLOAF - a big loaf
COCK (1) - a cockboat
COCK (2) - a spout to release liquor
COCK-AND-PIE - an oath
COCKLE - tares or darnel
COCKNEY - a cook
COCK-SHUT-TIME - the twilight, when cocks and hens go to roost
COG - to cheat, dissemble
COGNIZANCE - badge, token
COIGN - projecting corner stone
COIL - tumult, turmoil
COLLECTION - drawing a conclusion
COLLIED - blackened Othello;
COLOUR - pretence
COLOURABLE - specious
COLT - to defraud, befool
CO-MART - a joint bargain
COMBINATE - betrothed
COMBINE - to bind
COMMODITY - interest, profit
COMMONTY - used ludicrously for comedy
COMPACT - compacted, composed
COMPARATIVE - drawing comparisons
COMPARATIVE - rival
COMPARE - comparison
COMPASSIONATE - moving comparison
COMPETITOR - one who seeks the same thing
COMPLEMENT - accomplishment
COMPLEXION - passion
COMPOSE - to agree
COMPOSTION - composition
COMPTIBLE - tractable
COMPTER - counter
CON - to learn by heart
CONCAVE - hollow
CONCEIT - conception, opinion, fancy
CONCEPTIOUS - fruitful
CONCUPISCIBLE - lustful
CONCUPY - concubine
CONDITION - temper, quality
CONDOLEMENT - grief
CONDUCT - escort
CONFECT - to make up into sweetmeats
CONFOUND - to consume, destroy
CONJECT - conjecture
CONSANGUINEOUS - of the same blood
CONSCIONABLE - conscientious
CONSIGN - to sign a common bond, to confederate
CONSORT - company
CONSORT - to accompany
CONSTANCY - consistency
CONSTANT - settled, determined
CONSTANTLY - firmly
CONSTER - to construe
CONTEMPTIBLE - contemptuous
CONTINENT - a container; earth; summary or sum
CONTINUATE - uninterrupted
CONTRACTION - the marriage contract
CONTRARY - to oppose
CONTRIVE - to conspire
CONTROL - to confute
CONVENT - to convene, summon
CONVERT - to change
CONVERTITE - a convert
CONVEY - to represent oneself; euphemism for “to steal”
CONVEYANCE - theft, fraud
CONVICT - convicted
CONVICTED - overpowered, defeated
CONVINCE - to conquer, subdue
CONVIVE - to feast together
CONVOY - escort
CONY-CATCH - to cheat
CONY-CATCHING - poaching, pilfering
COOLING CARD - used metaphorically for an insurmountable obstacle
COPATAIN HAT - a high-crowned hat
COPE - to reward, to give in return
COPESMATE - companion
COPY - theme
CORAGIO - courage!
CORAM - possibly a mistake for “quorum”
CORANTO - lively dance
CORINTH - a cant term for a brothel
CORINTHIAN - a wencher
CORKY - dry like cork
CORNUTO - a cuckold
COROLLARY - a surplus
CORPORAL - bodily “Corporals of the field” were army officers who acted as assistants to the sergeant-major
CORRIVAL - rival or partner
COSTARD - the head
COSTER-MONGER - peddling, mercenary
COTE - a cottage
COTE - to quote, instance
COTE - to come alongside, overtake
COT-QUEAN - an effeminate man, molly-coddle
COUCHINGS - crouchings
COUNT CONFECT - a nobleman composed of affectation
COUNTENANCE - fair shew
COUNTERFEIT - deceitful; portrayed (rare)
COUNTERPOINT - a counterpane
COUNTERVAIL - to equal or counterbalance
COUNTRY - traveller
COUNTY - count
COUPLEMENT - union or coupling
COURT HOLY-WATER - flattery
COVENT - a convent
COVER - to lay the table for dinner
COWISH - cowardly
COWL-STAFF - the pole on which a basket is supported between two people
COY (1) - to stroke or caress
COY (2) - to disdain
COYSTRIL - a knave; base fellow
COZEN - to cheat
COZENAGE - cheating
COZENER - a cheater
COZIER - a tailor
CRACK - to boast
CRACK - a loud noise, clap
CRACKER - boaster
CRACK-HEMP - a gallows-bird
CRANK - a winding passage
CRANKING - winding
CRANTS - garlands A doubtful word
CRARE - a ship of burden
CRAVEN - a dunghill cock
CREATE - formed, compounded
CREDENT - believing; credible
CREDIT - report
CRESCIVE - increasing
CRESTLESS - not entitled to bear arms, lowborn
CRISP - curled, winding
CROSS (1) - a piece of money, coin
CROSS (2) - passing from side to side
CROSS (3) - across
CROSS (4) - to meet, face; to pass
CROW-KEEPER - one who keeps crows away from corn-fields
CROWNER - a coroner
CROWNET - a coronet
CRY (1) - the yelping of hounds
CRY (2) - to appeal; to beg
CRY (3) - public report or rumour
CRY AIM - to encourage
CUISSES - armour to cover the thighs
CULLION - a base fellow
CUNNING (1) - skill
CUNNING (2) - bashful
CUNNING (3) - to be strange
CURB - to bend, truckle
CURRENTS - occurrences
CURST -
CURSTNESS - shrewishness
CURTAIL - a cur
CURTAL - a docked horse
CURTAL-AXE - a cutlass
CUSTALORUM - a ludicrous mistake for Custos Rotulorum
CUSTARD-COFFIN - the crust of a custard-pie
CUSTOMER - a common woman
CUT - to slash; to carve; to preclude (from)
CYPRESS (1) - a kind of crape
CYPRESS (2) - tree of durable wood (symbol of mourning)
CYTHEREA - Venus