hawse
/hɔːz
/noun
1The part of a ship’s bows through which the anchor cables pass.I don't believe anyone makes stainless hawses for these winches, so there is a bit of a gap in the market....
- The hook held the anchor chain so that it was slack on the bow roller, while the two eye-splices were passed through two hawses.
- I need to find a way to make the two anchor chain hawses water tight.
1.1The space between the head of an anchored vessel and the anchors.I'll teach them to come across my hawse....
- Nothing would suit Nelson but this four-decked ship, so we crossed the hawse of about six of them, and were abreast of her.
- When a ship is moored, she is often thought to be in such a state of security, that the keeping a clear hawse is too often neglected.
Phrases
foul hawse
Origin
Late Middle English halse, probably from Old Norse háls 'neck, ship's bow'.