Definition

Noun: - Either of a pair of strong posts that support a windlass on a ship's deck: A "carrick bitt" refers to one of two sturdy, upright wooden or metal posts (a pair) fixed to a ship's deck. Their primary function is to provide support and stability for a windlass, which is a mechanical device used for hoisting anchors or heavy weights.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The sailors secured the windlass firmly between the two carrick bitts.
  • During the storm, the strain on the carrick bitts was immense as the anchor chain rattled through the windlass.

Advanced Usage

• This is a highly specialized nautical term. Its usage is almost exclusively confined to historical or technical contexts describing the architecture and equipment of sailing ships or traditional vessels.

Variants and Related Words

• Bitt (noun): A general term for a post on a ship's deck used for securing ropes, especially mooring lines. A "carrick bitt" is a specific type of bitt designed for supporting a windlass.
• Windlass (noun): The horizontal, rotating cylinder or winch that is supported by the carrick bitts, used for lifting heavy objects like an anchor.
• Bitts (plural noun): Often refers to a pair of such posts, typically used together. The phrase "the bitts" can imply the carrick bitts when context involves a windlass.

Synonyms

• Bitt (in a general sense, though less specific)
• Post (in a very general structural sense, lacking the nautical specificity)
• Support post (descriptive, but not a standard nautical term)

Related Phrases

• To make fast to the bitts: A standard nautical command meaning to secure a rope or cable to these posts.
  • After lowering the anchor, the crew was ordered to make the cable fast to the bitts.

Notes

• The term "carrick" in "carrick bitt" is believed to be derived from "carrack," a type of large sailing ship used from the 14th to 17th centuries, indicating the age and specificity of this term.
• In modern maritime contexts, more generalized terms like "windlass support" or specific modern part names are more common, making "carrick bitt" primarily a historical or traditional piece of vocabulary.

Noun

1. either of a pair of strong posts that support a windlass on a ship's deck