Page 15 - Peter Randall "The Craft of the Knot.."

KNOTTING TERMS

Knowing a few terms for knot tying is very important for following both
illustrations and descriptions in the text. When you work with a rope, it
generally has a standing part, bight, and running end.

When a knot is tied at the end of a rope, the very tip is referred to as
the “running end.” In fishing publications, this section may be referred
to as the “tag end.” Using this term in knotting directions gives the
important distinction that the very tip of the rope is delivered where the
directions say, whether it is over or under another rope, or through a

loop of some kind. The other end of the rope—the leading part that is
not manipulated in the knot tying—is called the “standing part.”
The term “bight” is the middle part of the rope that is not the running
end or standing part. Just as a running end can be directed in many

ways in the construction of a knot, a bight can be made out of any part
of the rope, and directed the same way. If an arrow in an illustration
seems to come from the standing part and not from the running end, it
usually means that a bight should be formed and taken in the direction
the arrow shows. It may help with some knots to fold the bight over very
tight, thus forming a narrow doubled piece that can pass more easily

where needed.

THE CROSSING TURN