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]