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clew

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clew

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Clew  \Clew\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  &  vb  n.  {Clewing}.]  [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.)  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Clew  \Clew\,  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 
 
  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.)  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. 
 
  {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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  clew 
  n  1:  a  ball  of  yarn  or  cord  or  thread 
  2:  evidence  that  helps  to  solve  a  problem  [syn:  {clue},  {cue}] 
  v  :  roll  into  a  ball  [syn:  {clue}]




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