Page 609 - The Ashley Book of Knots

GLOSSARY

GIVE, To: To start, tv ease, to render, to slacken, HEART: A sort of deadeye with a single hole, hav-

to slip. ing either three or four grooves to hold the

GOKE: An old name for the heart or core of a parts of a lanyard in place.

shroud-laid rope. HEART YARNS: The center yarns of a strand, which

GORDIAN KNOT: A legendary one that was difficult do not appear on the surface.

to untie. Some authors have contended that it HEAVE, To: To exert leverage on a windlass

was the first splice. Also a certain trick knot. brake, capstan bar, marlingspike, etc.

GOUTY END: A weathered and swelled end in run- HEAVE DOWN: To pull a vessel over on its side,

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rung rIggmg. to careen, so that the bottom is exposed.

GRAFT: Originally a kind of splice, now the HEAVER: A sailmaker's tool, also called "stitch mal-

method that was used in covering the splice.
let," illustrated in Chapter 1. Also a stick with

GRINDS: Kinks or "half kinks" in a hempen cable.
rope tails used in ropemaking, splicing and

GRIPE: A rope employed in lashing a boat. wormmg.
•

GROUND TACKLE: General term for all hawsers,
HEAVING LINE: A light line secured to the eye of a

cables, buoy ropes and warps employed in
mooring rope and bearing a heavy knot, often

anchoring, mooring and sometimes in tow-
a weighted one, which is tossed to the wharf

ing a vessel.
and by means of which the mooring line is

GROW, To: A cable grows in the direction it leads
hauled ashore.

from the hawse hole.

HERALDIC KNOTS: Pictured knots on family de-
(Q) "How does she grow?" (A) "Dead

vices. Only a few of these will form tangible

ahead, sir!"
knots.

GUYs: Stays for cranes, shears, derricks, poles,

HERCULES KNOT: The Roman name for the REEl
booms, etc.

KNOT.
HAGSTEETH or HAKESTEETH: Irregularities in mats,

• • HITCH, A: A knot that secures a rope to another
pomts, smnets, etc.

HALTER: The rope used in a hanging, or one with object. This can be another rope if the latter

•
•
which a domestic animal is "hitched" or led. IS mert.

HALYARDS or HALLIARDS: Ropes for hoisting sails HOBBLE, To: To secure a domestic animal by one

and yards. or more of its feet or to tie two feet together.

HAND, To: To furl. A hand is a sailor. To "hand, HOIST, To: To lift by means of a tackle.

reef and steer" is termed the "sailor's A.B.C." HOIST, THE: The perpendicular edge of a sailor

HAND OVER HAND: To haul rapidly on a rope, flag that is next to the mast.

employing alternate hands. HOME: In place, sharp up, to the limit, chocka-

HANDSOMELY: Slowly, carefully, gently, gradu- block.

ally; as to lower away handsomely. HONDA or HONDA KNOT: The eye in a lariat

HAND TAUT or TIGHT: Set up by hand alone with- through which the rope is rove to form the

out use of tackle. required NOOSE.

HANDY: Ready at hand, as a tool. Also dexterous, HORNS: The arms of a cleat.

skillful.
HORSES: An old name for footropes. l~ow applied

HANDY BILLY: A small tackle kept handy for small

only to the Flemish horses on the extremities

jobs.
of the topsail yards.

HANG ON, To: To hold fast without belaying.

IRISH PENNANTS: Frayed rope yarns and loose ends
HANK: The spliced grommet first used on stays

in reef points, gaskets, service, seizings, etc.
for bending staysails and jibs. Wooden and

IRISH SPLICE: A ratline, tightened or loosened by
iron hanks were invented in the latter part of

twisting the lay.
the eighteenth century. Also a skein of yarn;

also a coil of cord consisting of a number of JACKSTAYS: Ropes, wooden battens or iron bars

long turns covered with tight crossing turns. stretched along the yards, to which the sails

HARD KNOT: (I) Any knot that jams. (2) A REEF are bent.

KNOT as opposed to a GRANNY. (3) A REEF JAM, To: To refuse to render, to draw up into a

KNOT as opposed to a HALF Bow or DRAW- tight knot that is difficult to untie.

KNOT. JUNK: Old rope and cable cut up into short

HARD-LAID or SHORT-LAID: Tightly twisted rope. lengths, for working up into twice-laid stuff.

HAUL, To: To pull by hand on a rope or tackle. KACKLlNG or KECKLlNG: Old rope passed around

Formerly to pull on a single rope without ha-,vsers and cable to prevent chafe at the

blocks. h:lwse pipes, etc.

HAUL HOME, To: To sheet home. To pull until KEDGE, To: To move a vessel ahead by boating

your rope fetches up, chockablock. anchors and heaving at alternate cables.

HAWSER: A plain-laid rope big enough for towing KINK: "When a roape which should run smooth

and mooring. in the block, hath got a little turne." (Sir

HEART: A slack-twisted rope or strand employed Henry Manwayring.)

as a core in shroud-laid rope, wire rope and KNOB KNOT: A bUlich in a rope to prevent un-
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smnet. reeving or slipp~

r 600 )