clew
Yarn or thread as used to guide one's way through a maze or labyrinthYarn or thread as used to guide one's way through a maze or labyrinth; a guide, a clue.
» Their boat's sail tore near the clew.
Meaning
6 sensesYarn or thread as used to guide one's way through a maze or labyrinth; a guide, a clue.
The lower corner(s) of a sail to which a sheet is attached for trimming the sail (adjusting its position relative to the wind); the metal loop or cringle in the corner of the sail, to which the sheet is attached. (on a triangular sail) The trailing corner relative to the wind direction.
шко́товый у́гол па́русаškótovyj úgol párusa
(in the plural)The sheets so attached to a sail.
(in the plural)The cords suspending a hammock.
(obsolete)A roughly spherical mass or body.
(archaic)A ball of thread or yarn.
Knäuel
клубо́кklubók, мото́кmotók
клубо́кklubók
a ball of yarn or cord or thread
Examples
1 sentencesTheir boat's sail tore near the clew.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English clew, clewe, clowe, clue, clwe, clyw, clywe, from Old English clēowen,From Middle English clew, clewe, clowe, clue, clwe, clyw, clywe, from Old English clēowen, clīewen, clīowen, clīwen, clȳwe, clȳwen (“ball, sphere; skein”), from Proto-Germanic *kliuwiną, *klewô (“bale, ball, clump, mass”), from Proto-Indo-European *glew- (“to ball up, clump together; lump, swelling”). Akin to Old English clǣġ (“clay”). Doublet of knawel.
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