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noun
1.
clue (def. 1).
2.
Nautical. either lower corner of a square sail or the after lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail.
3.
a ball or skein of thread, yarn, etc.
4.
Usually, clews. the rigging for a hammock.
5.
EXPANDTheater. a metal device holding scenery lines controlled by one weighted line.
verb (used with object)
7.
to coil into a ball.
8.
clue (def. 3).
9.
Theater.
a.
to draw up the bottom edge of (a curtain, drop, etc.) and fold out of view; bag.
b.
to secure (lines) with a clew.
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Clew
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| to bark; yelp. |
10.
clew down, Nautical. to secure (a sail) in an unfurled position.
11.
Idiomclew up, Nautical. to haul (the lower corners of a square-rig sail) up to the yard by means of the clew lines.
12.
spread a large clew, Nautical.
a.
to carry a large amount of sail.
b.
to present an impressive appearance.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English clewe, Old English cleowen, cliewen, equivalent to cliew- (cognate with Old High German kliu ball) + -en -en5; akin to Dutch kluwen
before 900; Middle English clewe, Old English cleowen, cliewen, equivalent to cliew- (cognate with Old High German kliu ball) + -en -en5; akin to Dutch kluwen
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To clew
Collins
World English Dictionary
| clew (kluː) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a ball of thread, yarn, or twine |
| 2. | nautical either of the lower corners of a square sail or the after lower corner of a fore-and-aft sail |
| 3. | (usually plural) the rigging of a hammock |
| 4. | a rare variant of clue |
| —vb | |
| 5. | (tr) to coil or roll into a ball |
| [Old English cliewen (vb); related to Old High German kliu ball] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
clew
"ball of thread or yarn," northern Eng. and Scot. relic of O.E. cleowen, probably from W.Gmc. *kleuwin, from P.Gmc. *kliwjo-, from I.E. *gleu- "gather into a mass, conglomerate" (related to clay).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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