Nut with notches in its surface that can be secured in place by using a cotter pin stuck into a hole in the shaft on which the nut is threaded. This prevents the nut from turning since the cotter pin fits into the crenels or notches on the top surface.
Caster
Small wheel with freely rolling ball, which is attached to each leg of a piece of furniture, allowing it to move easily.
Casualty loss
Loss, which arises from the destruction of property resulting from circumstances of an unanticipated or unusual nature.
Cat faces
Small depressions in the finish coat of plaster which happen due to depressions in the brown coat of plaster. Correction occurs when plaster is floated.
Cat short
Used to stiff and strengthen wall in a house, these 2 x 4's are installed between wall studs in a line halfway up the height of the stud. Also serving as a nailing surface, there can be more than one line if the studs are extra length.
Cat's eyes
Weld defect in which a small piece of foreign matter or a hole is encircled by a bright area. Also referred to as fish eyes. Alternately, defective paint surface spotted with rainbow patterned rings.
Cat's paw
Rounded cross section pry bar, which has notched and flattened ends, one of which is bent at right angles to the bar, to pull nails.
Catalyst
A substance that effects a chemical reaction and/or the rate at which a chemical reaction takes place. In roofing, catalysts are used in SPF roofing.
Catalytic coating
Paint-like surface, which hardens by chemical reaction.
Catalytic converter
Device that is part of the exhaust system of a vehicle and contains a chemical catalyst to reduce pollution emissions.
