Page 177 - The New Encyclopedia of Knots

figure 132

Strands: yarns are twisted together in the opposite direction to the lay of the yarn itself, to form
strands. The appropriate number of strands are twisted together to form the finished rope (figure
132); see also rope, yarns, and fibres.

Strangle knot: essentially a transom knot (see page 175) which has been allocated a separate name

because it is tied around a single post.

Form a round turn around the post but initially taking the end in a diagonal direction, right to left,
across the post. It will then be trapped when the line is brought back across the front of the post, also
in a diagonal direction but this time from left to right. The working end will then hang down behind

the post and between the standing part and the bottom of the first turn. Now bring the end up across
the standing part and tuck it under both turns at the top, hauling it tight to secure.

String: usually refers to thin cordage for domestic use and includes thick thread and twine.

Strop: a rope or wire strap that is seized around a pulley block to suspend it; see also sling.

Surgeon’s knot: originally used by surgeons to tie off blood vessels; this knot now has a much wider
use because of its ability to hold much better than the reef knot (see page 130) in slippery synthetic

fibres.

The knot looks rather like an elongated reef knot. Form it by first making a thumb knot in one end and
then giving one of the ends an extra turn around the other. Then make a second thumb knot, but this
time in the opposite direction, and again with an extra turn. The finished knot is illustrated in figure