aramid: a synthetic rope fiber often sold under the trade name Kevlar®
bend: a knot which ties the ends of two ropes together
bight: 1. a small-radius curve in a rope in which the working and standing parts are brought near to or in contact with one another; 2. on the bight: describing a knot tied in any part of a rope other than the ends
binding knot: a true knot that tightly encloses or binds together another object or objects
bitter end: the last inch or two of a rope’s end
bosun’s chair: a sling, small suspended platform, or seat used to raise a person up a boat’s or ship’s mast
breaking strength: the tensile load at which a rope will break under laboratory conditions
bungee, bungee cord: shock cord; cord or rope with a highly elastic core and braided fabric cover, often sold in short, fixed lengths with hooks at both ends
cable: very heavy cordage made up of three twisted hawsers (definition 2)
capsize, capsized: a knot that has deformed into a different structure when tightened
chafing gear: any material used to reduce abrasion to a rope
cleat: a piece of hardware with two horn-like extensions to which ropes are hitched
clockwise, counterclockwise: describing the direction of a crossing turn from the standing part to the working end
coil: 1. an arrangement that prevents rope from tangling during storage or transportation; 2. a single loop of rope in a coil
coir: a natural rope fiber from coconut shells
core: the central, strength element of a rope with two-layer construction
crossing turn: a curve in which the rope crosses over itself
drawloop: a bight placed in the working end of a rope just before the final stage of tying a knot, to make it easy to untie. See slipped
dynamic use: rope usage in which the load will change
elbow: in a double crossing turn, one of two sections of rope between the crossing turn at the top, and the working end and standing part at the bottom
eye: a small closed loop in a rope’s end (or on a bight) formed by seizing or splicing
fair/fairing: to smooth or refine a misshapen knot
fiber: the smallest component, either natural or synthetic, from which cordage is made
fid: a tapered, pointed tool used to loosen knots
foundation knots: an ad-hoc category in this book that introduces basic knots and concepts
frapping turn: in a lashing or seizing, turns of the line over and at a right angle to previous round turns or wrappings, to tighten them
guillotine: a stationary electric hot-knife for cutting rope
halyard: a line used to raise a sail or a flag
hawser: 1. a heavy line, often a cable, for towing, anchoring, or tying up a ship; 2. occasionally: any rope, especially one of three twisted into a cable
heaving line: a rope meant to be thrown
heaving line knot: a stopper knot tied to add weight to the end of a heaving line. Also: the name of a specific heaving line knot.
hemp: a natural rope fiber from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa)
henequen: a natural rope fiber from the henequen agave (Agave fourcroydes)
high-modulus polyethylene: a synthetic rope fiber often sold under the trade names Spectra® and Dyneema®
hitch: a knot tied to an object, usually used to connect two objects together with a length of rope between them
jute: a natural rope fiber from plants of the genus Corchorus
kernmantle: two-layer rope construction, with a braided cover and a load-bearing core
laid: twisted, describing a method of rope construction
lash, lashing: ropework that ties two or more poles tightly together, usually incorporating numerous round and frapping turns
line: a general term for a rope when it is in use
loop knot: a true knot that forms a closed loop that can be placed around an object
loop: 1. a curve in a rope of a larger radius than a bight that encloses more area than a bight; 2. The part of a loop knot or hitch that goes around an object
manila: a natural rope fiber from the abaca plant (Musa textillis); rope of that fiber
mantle: the braided cover of a rope with two-layer construction
middle: to find the mid-point of a rope by folding it in half
monofilament: 1. cordage or a cordage component made from a single, relatively thick fiber of synthetic material; 2. monofilament fishing line
noose: a loop knot in which the size of the loop can be adjusted after the knot is tied
nylon: a synthetic rope fiber, an aliphatic polyamide
overhand: a crossing turn in which the working end is over the standing part
palm, sailmaker’s palm: a leather strap with a metal insert, worn on the hand to push needles through rope or canvas
parachute cord (also: paracord, 550 cord): small-diameter two-layer synthetic cordage with a braided cover, originally developed for use for parachute suspension, now a common utility cordage
polyester: a synthetic rope fiber often sold under the trade name Dacron®
polyethylene: a synthetic rope fiber
polypropylene: a synthetic rope fiber
purchase: a fixed loop tied on a bight and used like a pulley, to reverse the direction of the working end’s pull and increase force when tightening a line
rode: an anchor line
rope: cordage of roughly 3/8 in. (9 mm) or greater in diameter
round turn: a revolution of rope of 360 to 540 degrees around an object
running end: see working end
seize, seizing: a tight wrapping of heavy thread or small cord to join two ropes end-to-end or side-by-side, or to form an eye
service, serving: wrapping of small stuff around a section of rope to prevent abrasion
sheath: see mantle
sheet: a line used to control the set of a sail
shock load: a sudden application of force to a rope
shroud: a fixed line that supports a ship’s or boat’s mast transversely
sisal: a natural rope fiber from the sisal plant (Agave sisalana)
S-laid: clockwise twist in the strands of a laid rope, when viewed from an end. See Z-laid
sling: a fixed, closed loop of rope, webbing, or tubular tape
slipped: a knot tied with a drawloop to ease untying. See drawloop
splice: a structure in which the strands of a rope are separated and then woven together to: terminate a rope; form an eye; or join ropes end-to-end
standing end, standing part: the end of the rope that is not fully subject to manipulation in knot tying
static use: rope usage in which the load force and direction will not change
stay: a line that supports a ship’s or boat’s mast longitudinally
stop/stopping: small cords tied around a coil of rope to secure it
stopper: a knot used to prevent a line from passing through a small opening
stopper knot: a true knot that prevents a rope end escaping through a small opening, allows it to be thrown, or serves as a hand-hold. Also: the name of a specific stopper knot
strand: 1. a component in cordage made from twisted yarns. Laid ropes consist of strands twisted together; 2. one side of a crossing turn or other knot component; leg
threaded: describing two knots tied in parallel to make a single knot, with the second rope or part following the path of the first rope or part
toggle: a short cylinder of any material used to hold part of a knot in place
top rope: a rope attached to a fixed point to assist climbers below it
true knot: a class of knots in which a rope is tied to itself. True knots include binding, stopper, and loop knots.
turn: a half-revolution of rope around an object
underhand: a crossing turn in which the working end is under the standing part
whip, whipping: 1. a tight wrapping of heavy thread around a rope’s end, to prevent it from fraying; 2. any material so applied, such as tape
working end, working part: the free end of a rope that is subject to manipulation in tying a knot
working load: the maximum tensile load considered safe by a rope’s manufacturer
wrap: one of several adjacent round turns
yarn: a component in cordage made from twisted fibers; often about the diameter of sewing thread
Z-laid: counterclockwise twist in the strands of a laid rope, when viewed from an end. See S-laid