Captain Cuttle

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

a character in Dickens' Dombey and Son . He is a retired sailor, "a very salt-looking man indeed." On his first appearance on the scene he is described as "a gentleman in a wide suit of blue, with a hook instead of a hand attached to his right wrist; very bushy black eyebrows; and a thick stick in his left hand covered all over (like his nose) with knobs." Captain Cuttle is an intimate friend of Sol Gills, the ship's instrument maker. He is a simple, trustful, kind-hearted old fellow who, when he sees a friend in misfortune, is given to producing and handing over his store of worldly wealth, "two withered atomies of teaspoons, an obsolete pair of knock-kneed sugar tongs, an immense double-cased silver watch," and a little cash. He decides to give the watch to Walter, old Sol's nephew, as the young fellow, whose prospects are far from bright, is starting on a sea voyage. The captain drew Walter into a corner, and with a great effort, that made his face very red, pulled up the silver watch, which was so big, and so tight in his pocket, that it came out like a bung. "Wal'r," said the captain, handing it over, and shaking him heartily by the hand, "a parting gift, my lad. Put it back half an hour every morning, and about another quarter towards the arternoon, and it's a watch that'll do you credit." A favorite expression of Captain Cuttle's, frequently quoted, is, "when found make a note of."