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