hawse

/hɔ:z/

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Word: Hawse

Part of Speech: Noun

Basic Definition: The word "hawse" refers to the hole in a ship's hull (the body of the ship) through which the anchor rope (chain or cable) passes. This hole allows the anchor rope to go in and out of the ship as needed when the anchor is used.

Usage Instructions:

• When to Use: You would typically use "hawse" when talking about ships, boating, or maritime activities.
• Context: It is a technical term often used in nautical contexts.

Example Sentence:

• "The crew carefully inspected the hawse to ensure that the anchor rope could move freely."

Advanced Usage:

• In more advanced discussions about shipbuilding or sailing, one might talk about the "hawse pipe," which is the pipe or tube that directs the anchor rope through the hull.

Word Variants:

• Hawsepipe: This is a variant that combines "hawse" and "pipe," referring specifically to the tube that allows the anchor line to pass through the ship's structure.

Different Meanings:

• In addition to its nautical meaning, "hawse" can also refer to the position of a ship's bow in relation to another ship or object (as in "to hawse about"), but this is less common.

Synonyms:

• There are not many direct synonyms for "hawse," but related terms in a nautical context include:
  • Anchor hole
  • Hawse pipe

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no widely recognized idioms or phrasal verbs that include "hawse." However, in a nautical context, you might hear phrases like "to weigh anchor" or "to drop anchor," which are related to the use of the anchor but do not involve the word "hawse."

Summary:

"Hawse" is a specialized term used in maritime settings to describe the hole in a ship's hull for the anchor rope.

Academic

Noun

1. the hole that an anchor rope passes through

Synonyms

• hawsehole
• hawsepipe