Meaning of Clew | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A roughly spherical mass or body.
   obsolete
2. A ball of thread or yarn.
   archaic
3. Yarn or thread as used to guide one's way through a maze or labyrinth; a guide, a clue.
4. 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.
5. The sheets so attached to a sail.
   in-plural
6. The cords suspending a hammock.
   in-plural
7. Obsolete spelling of clue.
   alt-of, obsolete

Equivalents

Examples

“If the whole troupe be diuided into many clewes, or round bunches, you need⟳ not then doubt⟳ but that there are many kings.”

“Both theſe creatures [the "ai" (aye-aye?) and "unan"], by forming themſelves in a clew, have⟳ often more the appearance of excreſcences in the bark, than that of animals.”

“[O]nely ſinne And helliſh obſtinacie tye thy tongue That truth ſhould be ſuſpected, ſpeake, iſ't ſo? If it be ſo, you haue wound a goodly clewe: If it be not, forſweare't how ere I charge thee, As heauen ſhall work⟳ in me for thine auaile To tell⟳ me truelie.”

“A rare, precious, and never interrupted race⟳ of philosophers to whom wisdom, like⟳ another Ariadne, seems to have⟳ given a clew of thread which they have⟳ been walking along unwinding since the beginning of the world, through the labyrinth of human affairs.”

“The Fairy Paribanou was at that time very hard at work⟳, and, as she had several clews of thread by her, she took up one, and, presenting it to Prince Ahmed, said: "First take⟳ this clew of thread...”

“on one side of her lay⟳ a pair of carpet slippers and on the other a ball of red wool, the leading filament of which she would tug at every now and then with the immemorial elbow jerk of a Zemblan knitter to give⟳ a turn⟳ to her yarn clew and slacken the thread.”

“'Mid the rattle of blocks and the tramp of the crew, Hisses the rain⟳ of the rushing squall; The sails are aback from clew to clew, And now is the moment for "MAINSAIL, HAUL!"”

“"Clew" is Saxon; "garnet" (from granato, a fruit) is Italian,—that is, the garnet- or pomegranate-shaped block⟳ fastened to the clew or corner of the courses, and hence the rope running through the block⟳.”

“I went over and asked him to let⟳ down the clews or corners of the mainsail, which had been drawn up in order⟳ to lessen⟳ the useless flapping of the sail⟳ against the rigging.”

“"Run⟳ aft, Haldane, and you too, Spokeshave. Loosen the bunt of the mizzen-trysail and haul at the clew. That’ll bring⟳ her up to the wind fast enough, if the sail⟳ only stands it!"”

“Unfurl the sail⟳ and attach the clew to the hook attached to the outhaul line.”

“The canvas running up in a proud sweep⟳, Wind-wrinkled at the clews, and white like⟳ lint,”

“He taught us how to attach the clews to the ends of the hammock and then lash it between jack stays.”

“With this clew, let⟳ us endeavour to unravel this character of Herod as here given.”

“To this horrible mystery there is not as yet, we believe⟳, the slightest clew.”

“The clew, without which it was perilous to enter⟳ the vast and intricate maze of Continental politics, was in his hands.”

“Now, the fact is, I had started because I thought I saw⟳ the end⟳ of a good clew.”

“We may here have⟳ lighted on the clew to the great puzzle.”

“Telltale marks around the pan of yeast gave him a clew to the trouble⟳.”

“They had followed immediately behind him, thinking it barely possible that his actions might prove⟳ a clew to my whereabouts, and had witnessed my short but decisive battle with him.”

“And I brought the only clew to be found.”

“Not often did Jesse James leave⟳ a clew to his identity when he galloped away from a crime of violence, back into the mysterious Nowhere whence he came.”

“following the single clew that she must have⟳ gone off with a certain group of visitors from space; they knew what those visitors looked like⟳ but not from what part of the sky they came.”

CEFR level