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Dictionary Language resources

clew

Pronunciation: /kluː/

Definition of clew

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