clewing
present participle of clew
Source: Wiktionary
Clew, Clue, n. Etym: [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, knäuel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw. *26. Cf. Knawel.]
1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself. Untwisting his deceitful clew. Spenser.
2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a mystery. The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. Macaulay.
3. (Naut.) (a.)
Definition: A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore- and-aft sail. (b.)
Definition: A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.)
Definition: A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is suspended. Clew garnet (Naut.), one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards.
– Clew line (Naut.), a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its yard.
– Clew-line block (Naut.), The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust. of Block.
Clew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. & vb. n. Clewing.] Etym: [Cf. D. kluwenen. See Clew, n.]
1. To direct; to guide, as by a thread. [Obs.] Direct and clew me out the way to happiness. Beau. && Fl.
2. (Naut.)
Definition: To move of draw (a sail or yard) by means of the clew garnets, clew lines, etc.; esp. to draw up the clews of a square sail to the yard. To clew down (Naut.), to force (a yard) down by hauling on the clew lines.
– To clew up (Naut.), to draw (a sail) up to the yard, as for furling.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
5 November 2024
(verb) draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time; “The speaker temporized in order to delay the vote”
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