clews
Definition
Noun: 1. The cords or ropes used to suspend a hammock: This is the primary and most specific meaning, referring to the set of lines or ropes attached to the ends of a hammock for hanging it.
Usage
The word "clews" is a plural noun. It is a specialized nautical term. Its usage is almost entirely restricted to the context of hammocks, particularly traditional naval or sailing hammocks. It is not commonly used in everyday modern English.
Examples
- The sailor carefully checked the clews before hanging his hammock between the deck beams.
- To set up the hammock properly, you must secure the clews to two strong points.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Nautical Context: In historical naval contexts, "clews" could more broadly refer to the lower corners of a square sail or the aft lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail, where the sheets (ropes controlling the sail) are attached. However, for the hammock, it specifically denotes the suspension cords.
- As a verb (obsolete): The singular form "clew" can be a verb meaning to draw up the lower corners of a sail with ropes, but this usage is archaic.
Variants and Related Words
- Clew (noun, singular): The singular form, referring to one such cord or, in sailing, a corner of a sail.
- Clewline (noun): A rope used to haul up the clew of a sail.
- Clue (noun): A completely different modern word (meaning a piece of evidence) that is a homophone and originated from the same Old English word ("cleowen" meaning a ball of yarn), based on the idea of using a thread to guide one through a maze.
Synonyms
- Hammock ropes
- Suspension lines
- Lanyards (in a general cordage context, though not a perfect synonym)
Phrasal Verbs
Not applicable for the noun "clews".
Related Idioms
There are no common idioms using the word "clews".
Noun
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the cords used to suspend a hammock
