Found 2 items, similar to clew.
English → English (WordNet)
Definition: clew
clew
n 1: a ball of yarn or cord or thread
2: evidence that helps to solve a problem [syn:
clue,
cue]
clew
v : roll into a ball [syn:
clue]
English → English (gcide)
Definition: Clew
Clew
\Clew\ (kl[=u]), Clue
\Clue\, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue,
AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen,
OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn["a]uel, and perch.
to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor.
Perch. akin to E. claw. [root]26. Cf.
Knawel.]
1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself.
[1913 Webster]
Untwisting his deceitful clew. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the
vast and intricate maze of countinental politics,
was in his hands. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Naut.)
(a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner
of a fore-and-aft sail.
(b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail.
(c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock
is suspended.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Clew
\Clew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Clewed p. pr. & vb. n.
Clewing.] [Cf. D. kluwenen. See
Clew, n.]
1. To direct; to guide, as by a thread. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Direct and clew me out the way to happiness. --Beau.
& Fl.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Naut.) 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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster] ||