carrick bitt

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carrick bitt

A sailor secures a thick rope to the carrick bitt on the ship's deck.

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.
carrick bitt

A sailor secures a thick rope to the carrick bitt on the ship's deck.

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