earing
Definition
- Noun (Nautical):
- A rope or line used to fasten the upper corner of a sail to a yard or mast: In sailing, an "earing" is a specific piece of rigging—typically a short rope—used to secure the corner (the head or tack) of a square sail to the yard (the horizontal spar) from which the sail is hung. This allows the sail to be properly set and controlled.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The sailor tied the earing to the yard before hoisting the sail. (The sailor fastened the rope that secures the sail's upper corner.)
- Without the earing, the sail would flap loose and become unmanageable. (Without this specific rope, the sail cannot be properly attached.)
Advanced Usage
- "To reeve an earing": To pass the earing rope through a block or eyelet to secure it.
- The crew had to reeve the earing through the cringle on the sail. (They threaded the rope through the reinforced hole in the sail's corner.)
- "Earing knot": A specific type of knot used to tie the earing to the yard.
- He used a reef knot to secure the earing. (He tied the rope using a simple, reliable knot.)
Variants and Related Words
- No common variants: "Earing" is a specialized nautical term with no widely used derivatives in general English. It is not to be confused with "earring" (jewelry worn on the ear), which is a different word.
- Related term: Cringle (n): a reinforced hole in a sail through which an earing is often passed.
- The earing was threaded through the cringle. (The rope went through the reinforced eyelet.)
Synonyms
- Bridle: a rope used to control a sail's position (though not identical; a bridle often refers to a different type of rigging).
- Lashing: a general term for a rope used to secure something, but not specific to a sail's corner.
Phrasal Verbs
- No phrasal verbs: "Earing" is not used as a verb or in phrasal verbs in standard English.
Related Idioms
- No idioms: "Earing" does not appear in common idiomatic expressions. It remains a technical term in nautical contexts.