Clew line

Clew line
Clew Clew (kl[=u]), Clue Clue, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn["a]uel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw. [root]26. Cf. {Knawel}.] 1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself. [1913 Webster]

Untwisting his deceitful clew. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a mystery. [1913 Webster]

The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

3. (Naut.) (a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore-and-aft sail. (b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is suspended. [1913 Webster]

{Clew garnet} (Naut.), one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards.

{Clew line} (Naut.), a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its yard.

{Clew-line block} (Naut.), The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust. of {Block}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • clew line — noun : a rope by which a clew of an upper square sail is hauled up to its yard see sail illustration * * * clew line, a line attached to the clew of a sail and used in hauling it up to reef …   Useful english dictionary

  • Clew-line block — Clew Clew (kl[=u]), Clue Clue, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn[ a]uel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • clew line — /ˈklu laɪn/ (say klooh luyn) noun a rope by which a clew of a square sail above the courses is hauled to the yard …  

  • clew-line — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Clew — (kl[=u]), Clue Clue, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn[ a]uel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Clew garnet — Clew Clew (kl[=u]), Clue Clue, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn[ a]uel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • clew — /klooh/, n. 1. clue (def. 1). 2. Naut. either lower corner of a square sail or the after lower corner of a fore and aft sail. See diag. under sail. 3. a ball or skein of thread, yarn, etc. 4. Usually, clews. the rigging for a hammock. 5. Theat. a …   Universalium

  • clue-line — see clew line …   Useful english dictionary

  • Clue — Clew Clew (kl[=u]), Clue Clue, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn[ a]uel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • clewline — clew line n. Nautical A rope used to raise the clew of a sail up to the yard or mast. * * * …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”