Definition

1. 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

1. the ropes in the rigging of a ship
2. the amount of wood in an area as measured in cords