clew

 
Pronunciation: /kluː/

noun

  • 1the lower or after corner of a sail.
  • 2 (clews) Sailing the cords by which a hammock is suspended.
  • 3 archaic a ball of thread.
  • 4archaic variant of clue

verb

[with object] (clew something up (or down)) Sailing
  • raise (or lower) a square sail by the clews when furling (or unfurling).

Origin:

Old English cliwen, cleowen (denoting a rounded mass, also a ball of thread), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kluwen. All senses are also recorded for the form clue