Definition

1. Noun:

   • A strong post: A sturdy vertical structure, typically made of wood or metal, fixed to a wharf, quay, or ship. Its primary function is for attaching and securing mooring lines (ropes used to tie up a vessel).

2. Verb:

   • To secure with a bitt: The action of fastening a ship's mooring line to a bitt.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The sailor wrapped the heavy rope around the bitt on the dock.
  • The ship's stern was equipped with two large bitts for securing the anchor line.

• Verb:

  • The crew was ordered to bitt the lines quickly before the storm arrived.
  • Please bitt the ship's line securely to prevent it from drifting.

Advanced Usage

• "To bitt a line": This is the standard verb phrase, meaning to make a line fast to a bitt.
  • The first step after docking is to bitt the bow and stern lines.

Variants and Related Words

• Bollard (n): A similar short, thick post on a wharf or ship used for mooring. While very similar, a bollard is often found on docks, and a bitt is specifically associated with ships, though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
• Cleat (n): A T-shaped or two-horned fitting on a boat or dock for securing lines. It serves a similar purpose but is a different piece of hardware.
• Bitts (n, plural): Often refers to a pair of such posts mounted together on a ship, forming a single unit for belaying (winding) lines.

Synonyms

• Noun: Post, mooring post, bollard (in some contexts), samson post.
• Verb: Secure, fasten, make fast, belay.

Related Phrases

• "Bitt the cable": A traditional nautical command meaning to secure the anchor cable to the bitts.
  • As the anchor dropped, the captain shouted, "Bitt the cable!"

Notes on Meaning

• The word bitt is highly specialized to maritime and nautical contexts. It is rarely, if ever, used in everyday general English outside of discussions about boating, sailing, or dock infrastructure.
• As a verb, it is a transitive verb and is used almost exclusively with objects like "line," "rope," or "cable."

Noun

1. a strong post (as on a wharf or quay or ship for attaching mooring lines)
   • the road was closed to vehicular traffic with bollards

Verb

1. secure with a bitt
   • bitt the ship line