v. ? Obs. [app. from the earlier condie, CONDUE: perh. the final vowel was sunk in that of the inflexion, e.g., in past tense, condyde, condude. See also CON v.2]
† 1. trans. To conduct. Obs.
c. 1400. Beryn, 3980. He woll have … a saff condit enselid. Ibid., 3995. He chargit Barons twelff … To cond him [MS. his] saff & his meyne.
2. To conduct (a ship): to direct the helmsman how to steer; = CON v.2
1612. Trav. Four Englishm., Pref. 11. The Mariners were … not accustomed to saile by compasse or cunding of the ship, but by the eye and view.
1692. in Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., I. xvi. 76. To Cond or Cun, is to direct or guide, and to cun a Ship is to direct the Person at Helm how to steer her.
1721–90. Bailey, To cond, to conn.
1823. Crabbe, Technol. Dict., Cond.
3. To direct fishing-boats after a shoal of herring or pilchard, as seen from heights overlooking the sea; to balk.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 32 b. The boates are directed in their course by a Balker or Huer, who standeth on the Cliffe side, and from thence best discerneth the quantitie and course of the Pilcherd, according whereunto hee cundeth (as they call it) the Master of each boate (who hath his eye still fixed upon him) by crying with a lowd voice, whistling through his fingers, and wheazing certing diuersified and significant signes, with a bush, which hee holdeth in his hand.
1603. Act 1 Jas. I, c. 23. To Balke, Hue, Conde, Direct, and Guide the Fishermen.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word. Bk., Cund, to give notice which way a shoal of fish is gone.
