cordage
/'kɔ:didʤ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The ropes or cords used in the rigging of a ship or boat: This refers to the collective term for all the lines, cables, and ropes that make up a vessel's rigging system, used for supporting masts and controlling sails.
- A quantity of wood measured in cords: This is a measurement term for the volume of wood, typically cut for fuel, where a cord is a unit of volume equal to 128 cubic feet (a stack 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and 4 feet wide).
Usage Examples
Noun (Nautical):
- The old sailing ship's cordage was meticulously maintained by the crew.
- Replacing the worn cordage was essential for the safety of the vessel.
Noun (Measurement):
- The forester estimated the cordage of timber available for harvest.
- We purchased three cords of firewood, but the total cordage from the lot was much greater.
Advanced Usage
- Technical/Historical Context: In nautical contexts, "cordage" can refer not just to modern synthetic ropes but also to traditional materials like hemp or manila rope used in historical shipbuilding and rigging.
- The museum exhibit detailed the evolution of cordage from natural fibers to modern synthetics.
Variants and Related Words
- Cord (n): A unit of measurement for cut wood (128 cubic feet) or a thin, flexible string or rope.
- Rigging (n): The system of ropes, cables, and chains used to support and control the masts, sails, and yards of a sailing vessel. (Note: "Cordage" is a key component of rigging).
Synonyms
- Rope(s): (For the nautical meaning) Lengths of strong material made by twisting fibers.
- Rigging: (Specifically the system incorporating cordage)
- Wood volume: (For the measurement meaning)
Related Phrases
- To measure cordage: To calculate the volume of wood in cords.
- The landowner needed to measure the cordage before selling the timber.
Noun
- the ropes in the rigging of a ship
- the amount of wood in an area as measured in cords