CLUE
clue, clew, cue
(noun) evidence that helps to solve a problem
hint, clue
(noun) a slight indication
clue, clew
(verb) roll into a ball
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
clue (plural clues)
(now rare) A strand of yarn etc. as used to guide one through a labyrinth; something which points the way, a guide.
Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion.
An object or a kind of indication which may be used as evidence.
(slang) Insight or understanding ("to have a clue [about]" or "to have clue". See have a clue, clue stick)
Synonyms
• (information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion): hint, indication, suggestion
• (object or indication which may be used as evidence): signature
• (understanding): idea
Verb
clue (third-person singular simple present clues, present participle clueing or cluing, simple past and past participle clued)
To provide with a clue.
To provide someone with information which he or she lacks (often used with "in" or "up").
Anagrams
• Luce, leuc-, luce
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.
Clue, n. Etym: [See Clew, n.]
Definition: A ball of thread; a thread or other means of guidance. Same as
Clew.
You have wound a goodly clue. Shak.
This clue once found unravels all the rest. Pope.
Serve as clues to guide us into further knowledge. Locke.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition