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] ||