Naut. Also 7 comming, 7–8 coming, 8 cooming, 9 combing. [Origin uncertain; some identify it with combing, a spelling occasionally found in modern use, but not supported by early evidence.]
In pl.: The raised borders about the edge of the hatches and scuttles of a ship, which prevent water on deck from running below.
1611. Cotgr., Aileures, two beames that runne along the hatches of a shippe, and with the Trauersins make a long square hole, whereat the ship-boat is let downe into the hold; our ship-wrights name them, Comings, or Carlings.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Sea-men, 11. The hatches, the hatches way, the holes in the commings.
1762. Watson, in Phil. Trans., LII. 629. Lightning, which … made several holes between the coomings of the hatches and the deck.
1835. Marryat, Jac. Faithf., xi. Sitting down on the coamings of the hatchway.
1865. Daily Tel., 14 April, 5/5. With combings and finishings of hard pine, cherry [etc.].
1883. G. C. Davies, Norfolk Broads, xxv. (1884), 188. Flying along with the wind abeam, and the water up to the coamings of the well.
b. Coaming-carlings: ‘those timbers that inclose the mortar-beds of bomb-vessels, and which are called carlings, because they are shifted occasionally. Short beams where a hatchway is cut’ (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk.).
