Page 174 - Eric C. Fry - Knots and Ropework

Glossary

Bight The bight is the curvature of a rope Heart The strand, impregnated in the case
when its direction is changed from that of of wi re, running through the centre of a
a straight line, to the maximum of a full shroud -laid rope or a w ire, around which
circle. all working strands are laid.
Any point within this curvature is said to be The central core of a plaited rope may be
in the bight. said to be a heart, whilst some wire is
made with a w ire heart. (Not to be
confused with the inner rope of the mUltiple
Bowse-Down The act of hauling tight by
means of a purchase, with or without strand, 17 by 7 and 34 by 7 construction.)
sheave blocks.
Heaving Line A light, throwing line,
subsequently used to hau l a heavier rope
Braided/ Plaited rope as distinct from a ashore.
'laid' rope, one in which strands are woven,
with or without a central core, or when a Lay The word has two definitions when
woven core is enclosed with in a woven applied to rope. It can mean the direction
outer sheath. in which the strands were twisted during
the manufacture of the rope, ie, a right or
left-handed lay. Alternatively, it can mean
Bulldog Grip A metal fitting used to
clamp two wires together, side by side. It the 'nature' of the rope when, dependent
is never used on rope and consists of a on how tightly the yarns were twisted
shaped part into which fits aU-shaped during manufacture, a rope may have a
bolt. It is tightened with two nuts, both soft medium or hard lay. In decorative
work it means the pattern resulting from
parts of the wire being trapped between the assembled strands.
the U-bolt and the shaped part.
Marline (Spunyarn) This is an
Cable-Laid A cable- laid rope comprises impregnated cordage, available in various
three hawser-laid ropes, each of three sizes and grades of quality, used mainly
strands, laid up together, left handed. to bind around a splice (serving) as a
protection against w ind and weather. A
good-qual ity marline of the correct size
Fibres The thread-like fi lament of
vegetable or synthetic substance of which might be used for a seizing or even as a
the yarns are made. whipping on a very large rope.
Main vegetable fibre ropes: coir, Manila,
sisal, cotton and Italian hemp. Monkey's Fist A rope ball formed on the
end of a heaving line to give it carrying
Synthetic fibre ropes : nylon, polyester,
polypropylene. quality. See Knot 30.
Parcel See Serving
Hawser A heavy mooring rope.
Parts, relative to a Turk's Head The
Hawser-Laid A rope is said to be number of strands seen on cross-section
hawser- laid when it consists of three if the knot was cut across prior to any
strands, genera!1y laid up right-handed, ie 'follow around'. The number of parts
the strands are laid from left to right. governs the length of the knot.