double-bitt
Definition
- Verb (transitive, nautical):
- To wind or secure (a cable or rope) twice around a bitt, or around two bitts, on a ship. A "bitt" is a strong post on the deck of a ship used for mooring or fastening cables.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- The sailor had to double-bitt the mooring line to ensure the ship stayed secure during the storm. (The sailor wound the rope twice around the bitts to prevent slipping.)
- Before docking, the crew double-bitted the hawser to withstand the strong current. (The crew secured the heavy cable by wrapping it around two bitts.)
Advanced Usage
- "To double-bitt a cable": a specific nautical technique for increasing friction and holding power.
- The captain ordered the deckhands to double-bitt the anchor chain. (The chain was wound around two bitts for extra security.)
Variants and Related Words
Bitt (noun): a strong vertical post on a ship's deck used for fastening cables or ropes.
- The bitts on the forecastle were worn from years of use. (The mooring posts showed signs of age.)
Double-bitted (adjective): describing a cable or rope that has been wound twice around a bitt or bitts.
- The double-bitted line held fast against the tugboat's pull. (The rope was secured using the double-bitt method.)
Synonyms
- Secure: to make fast or firm.
- Make fast: a nautical term meaning to tie or secure a rope.
Related Idioms
- (No common idioms directly using "double-bitt"; the term is highly specialized to nautical contexts.)