swiftern.
/ˈswɪftə/ 1. Nautical. A rope used for swifting (see swift v.1).
a. One of a pair of shrouds, fixed above the other shrouds, for swifting or stiffening a mast.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > masts, rigging, or sails > rigging > [noun] > fixed rigging > rigging supporting mast laterally > shroud fixed above others
swift1336
swiftera1625
a1625 H. Mainwaring Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. 2301) Swifters..Doe belong to the Maine and fore-mast, and are to succor the Shrowdes, and keepe stiff the Mast, they haue Pendants, wch are made faste vnder the Shrowdes, at the head of the Mast, with a double Block, through wch is reeued the Swifter, wch at the Standing parte hath a single Block with a hooke, which is hitched in a Ring by the Chaine Wale, and soo the fall being hal'd doth helpe to strengthen the Mast.
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. v. 19 Ouer the heads of those Masts are pendants, for Tackels and Swifters vnder them.
1836 F. Marryat Mr. Midshipman Easy III. xiii. 281 ‘Down, my lads, in a moment by the swifters,’ cried Jack.
b. A rope passed through holes or notches in the outer ends of the capstan-bars and drawn taut.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > other equipment of vessel > [noun] > capstan > bars fittings of bars
pin1850
poppet1850
swifter1883
poppet hole1886
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine s.v. Capstern The swifter, is a rope passed horizontally through holes in the outer ends of the bars..to keep the men steddy as they walk round, when the ship rocks.
1883 Man. Seamanship for Boys' Training Ships Royal Navy 200 In each end of the bars [of the capstan] there is a notch; a piece of rope called the swifter is passed round in each notch, and swab-hitched to the end of each bar.
c. A rope passed around a boat or ship as a protection against strain or collision.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > rope passed round boat to prevent strain
swifter1847
1847 A. C. Key Narr. Recov. H.M.S. Gorgon 18 A swifter consisting of three turns of twelve-inch hemp cable, was passed round the ship.
2. North American. Logging. A cable or spar used to secure a raft of logs.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > lumbering > [noun] > lumbering equipment > means of securing logs
logging-chain1825
swifter1870
boom-chain1883
wrapper1901
catpiece1905
four paws1905
1870 Overland Monthly 5 July 58/1 In a ‘square’ raft, long, slender spars, called ‘swifters’, are placed.
1975 H. White Raincoast Chron. (1976) 150/1 They were using a hand winch to pull the swifters across that locked the logs in place.
Derivatives
ˈswifter v. (transitive) to fasten a swifter to or tighten with a swifter: = swift v.1
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > fasten rope to or between stays
swifter1794
snake1815
1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 198 The shrouds are then swiftered together.
1881 W. C. Russell Ocean Free-lance II. iv. 170 I had the lower rigging swiftered.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
<
n.a1625