Clew Clue, n.
1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself.
Untwisting his deceitful clew. --Spenser.
2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a mystery.
The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. --Macaulay.
3. Naut. (a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore-and-aft sail. (b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is suspended.
Clew garnet Naut., one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards.
Clew line Naut., a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its yard.
Clew-line block Naut., The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust. of Block.
◄ ►