ClipArt ETC
This Assyrian amphora is a vase made out of clay with a rope handle.

Assyrian Amphora

This Assyrian amphora is a vase made out of clay with a rope handle.

Anchor and Tackle used to raise and lower it.

Anchor and Tackle

Anchor and Tackle used to raise and lower it.

"Pine shavings are the best to use, as they are less brittle than those of harder woods. Select a number and put them to soak in cold water to make the sot and pliable." -Beard, 1906

Basket made of wood shavings

"Pine shavings are the best to use, as they are less brittle than those of harder woods. Select a number…

To tie a blackwall hitch, form a bight at the end of a rope, and put the hook of a tackle through the bight, so that the end of the rope may be jammed between the standing part and the back of the hook.

Blackwall Hitch

To tie a blackwall hitch, form a bight at the end of a rope, and put the hook of a tackle through the…

"Two boats moored to the bank of the river by ropes and stakes. In the cabin of one, a man inflicts the bastinado on a boatman. He appears to be one of the stewards of an estate, and is accompanied by his dog. In the other boat is a cow, and a net containing hay or chopped straw." — Goodrich, 1844

Two Egyptian Boats

"Two boats moored to the bank of the river by ropes and stakes. In the cabin of one, a man inflicts…

An illustration of butt slings.

Butt Slings

An illustration of butt slings.

"The capstan is a familiar example of this form of wheel and axle. It is used by sailors for warping vessels up to a dock, raising anchors, &c.; and consists of a massive piece of timber, round which a rope passes. This is surmounted by a circular head, perforated with holes, into which, when the instrument is to be used, strong bars, called handspikes, are inserted." —Quackenbos 1859

Capstan

"The capstan is a familiar example of this form of wheel and axle. It is used by sailors for warping…

To tie a carrick bend, lay the end of one rope over its own standing part so as to form a bight. Put the end of the other rope through this bight under the standing part, over the end beyond the bight, under the standing part beyond the bight, and down through the bight over its own standing part.

Carrick Bend

To tie a carrick bend, lay the end of one rope over its own standing part so as to form a bight. Put…

A series of links or rings, connected together, used for various purposes.

Chain

A series of links or rings, connected together, used for various purposes.

To tie a clove hitch, first pass the end 'a' around a spar, and cross it over 'b'. Pass it around the spar again, and put it through the second bight (Fig. 1). This is a knot that is very useful and safe. For making a line fast to a bollard, the whole process can be quickly done by an expert by merely throwing two loops, placed rightly, over the top of the bollard, and pulling taut (Fig. 2).

Clove Hitch

To tie a clove hitch, first pass the end 'a' around a spar, and cross it over 'b'. Pass it around the…

"And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children." Luke 23:27-28 ASV <p>Illustration of Jesus carrying his cross. He is turned to the women who are weeping and following the procession. His arm is raised to them as he comforts them. A soldier walks before the cross and a soldier on horseback rides alongside. Simon takes the rope holding the cross and prepares to take the burden from Jesus. The walls of the city can be seen in the distance.

Jesus Carries His Cross and Comforts the Women Following Him

"And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.…

A round, laterally flattened wooden block, encircled by a rope or an iron band, and pierced with three holes to recieve the lanyard, used to extend the shrouds and stays, and for other purposes.

Deadeye

A round, laterally flattened wooden block, encircled by a rope or an iron band, and pierced with three…

A round, laterally flattened wooden block, encircled by a rope or an iron band, and pierced with three holes to recieve the lanyard, used to extend the shrouds and stays, and for other purposes.

Deadeye

A round, laterally flattened wooden block, encircled by a rope or an iron band, and pierced with three…

"Good judgement of distance is essential. Accuracy in thrusting and lunging is best attained by practicing these attacks against rings or other convenient openings, about three inches in diameter, suitably suspended at desired heights." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Dummy

"Good judgement of distance is essential. Accuracy in thrusting and lunging is best attained by practicing…

"dummies should be constructed in such a manner as to permit the execution of attacks wthout injury to the point of edge of the bayonet or to the barrel or stock of the rifle. A suitable dummy can be made from pieces of rope about five feet in length plaited closely together into a cable between six and twelve inches in diameter. Old rope is preferable." &mdash; Moss, 1914

Dummy

"dummies should be constructed in such a manner as to permit the execution of attacks wthout injury…

"For making an eye splice, the end of the rope is unlaid and the strands are bent upon the body of the rope so as to form an 'eye' of the size desired."&mdash;Finley, 1917

Eye-splice

"For making an eye splice, the end of the rope is unlaid and the strands are bent upon the body of the…

"Naut.: A strip of board with holes in it for running rigging to pass through and be kept clear, so as to be easily distinguished at night." -Whitney, 1911

Fair-Leader

"Naut.: A strip of board with holes in it for running rigging to pass through and be kept clear, so…

"Naut.: A square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, used to support a topmast or topgallantmast when swayed up into place. The fid passes through a square hole in the heel of its mast, and its ends rest on the trestletrees." -Whitney, 1911

Mast Fid

"Naut.: A square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, used to support a topmast or topgallantmast…

To tie a fisherman's bend, take two turns round a spar, then a half hitch round the standing part, and between the spar and the turns, and lastly, make a half hitch round the standing part.

Fisherman's Bend

To tie a fisherman's bend, take two turns round a spar, then a half hitch round the standing part, and…

An illustration of a flea dressed in a uniform walking across a tight rope while holding a stick.

Flea Tight-Rope

An illustration of a flea dressed in a uniform walking across a tight rope while holding a stick.

"Garland lashed on a lower mast. A large rope strap or grommet lashed to a spar when hoisting it on board." -Whitney, 1911

Nautical Garland

"Garland lashed on a lower mast. A large rope strap or grommet lashed to a spar when hoisting it on…

"GIN-BLOCK. A simple form of tackle-block with a single wheel, over which a rope runs. It has a hook by which it swings from the jib of a crane or the sheer of a gin." -Whitney, 1911

Gin-Block

"GIN-BLOCK. A simple form of tackle-block with a single wheel, over which a rope runs. It has a hook…

"Glut. Naut.: (b) A becket or thimble fixed on the after side of a topsail or course, near the head, to which the bunt-jigger is hooked to assist in furling the sail." -Whitney, 1911

Glut

"Glut. Naut.: (b) A becket or thimble fixed on the after side of a topsail or course, near the head,…

"Grommet. Naut., a ring of rope used for various purposes, made from a strand laid three times round its own central part formed into a loop of the desired size." -Whitney, 1911

Grommet

"Grommet. Naut., a ring of rope used for various purposes, made from a strand laid three times round…

"Scene in Egyptian kitchen, showing use of a large rope to support a sort of hanging shelf." -Hill, 1921

Egyptian Kitchen

"Scene in Egyptian kitchen, showing use of a large rope to support a sort of hanging shelf." -Hill,…

To tie a bowline knot, lay the end of the rope 'a' over 'b' so as to form a bight 'c'; pass the end 'a' round behind and under 'b', and through the bight; continue with 'a' to pass it under the standing part 'b', and through the bight 'c' in the opposite direction. This knot forms the best loop that will not slip.

Bowline Knot

To tie a bowline knot, lay the end of the rope 'a' over 'b' so as to form a bight 'c'; pass the end…

A three stranded crown knot.

Crown Knot

A three stranded crown knot.

A granny knot.

Granny Knot

A granny knot.

To form a half-hitch, pass the end 'a' of the rope around the standing part 'b', and through the bight.

Half-Hitch Knot

To form a half-hitch, pass the end 'a' of the rope around the standing part 'b', and through the bight.

The most common type of knot, the overhand is made by passing one end of a line over the line and around it, then passing it through the loop.

Overhand Knot

The most common type of knot, the overhand is made by passing one end of a line over the line and around…

"Showing how a square knot may be tied with a cord." &mdash; Blaisedell, 1904

Square Knot

"Showing how a square knot may be tied with a cord." — Blaisedell, 1904

"This is much better than the granny knot, because it is easily untied, but will not loosen of itself." &mdash;Davison, 1910

Square Knot

"This is much better than the granny knot, because it is easily untied, but will not loosen of itself."…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. The simplest knot is the common one tied on the end of a thread or cord to prevent it slipping. By passing a loop instead of the end of the cord the common slip knot (fig. 1) is formed."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. A useful fixed loop is got by tying a simple knot, or the 'figure of 8 knot' (2) on the loop of a cord."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. One of the simplest and most useful running knots for a small cord is made by means of two simple knots (3)."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. The most secure method of fastening a line to, say, a bucket is the standing bowline (4); and a running bowline is formed by passing the end a through the loop b, thus making a running loop."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. Another good knot to make fast a bucket is the anchor bend (5)."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. Out of the score or so of methods of fastening a boat's painter the one which will be found most useful is the well-known two half-hitches (6)."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. The timber hitch (7) is useful for attaching a line to a spar or a stone."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. The clove hitch (8) is invaluable for many purposes. It is very simple and cannot slip."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. A simple method of fastening a rope to a hook is the blackwall hitch (9), where the strain on the main rope jams the end so tightly against he hook that it cannot slip. "&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. There are many methods for shortening a rope temporarily, one of them being the sheepshank, the simplest form of which is shown in fig. 10."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. Of the methods for uniting the ends of two cords the simplest and one of the most secure is the common reef knot (11), which must be carefully distinguished from the granny (12), which will jam it it does not slip; the reef knot will do neither."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. Of the methods for uniting the ends of two cords the simplest and one of the most secure is the common reef knot (11), which must be carefully distinguished from the granny (12), which will jam it it does not slip; the reef knot will do neither."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. For very small cords or thread the best knot is the weaver's (13)."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. The fisherman's knot is a very useful one for anglers, and is formed by a simple knot in each cord being slipped over the other (14); when drawn taut it is very secure, and it is easily separated by pulling the short ends."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. A useful method of uniting large ropes is shown in figure 15: tie a simple knot on the end of one rope and interlace the end of the other, and draw taut. This tie may also be made with the figure of 8 knot."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. For very large ropes the carrick bend (16) is the simplest and most secure. The bowline bend is formed by looping two bowline knots into each other."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. Generally, the requirements of a useful knot may be stated to be that it should neither 'slip' nor 'jam'&ndash; I. e. that, while it holds without danger of slipping while the strain is on it, when slackened it should be easily untied again. For attaching a small line to a thick rope the becket hitch (17) is very useful."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. 'Splicing' is the process employed to join two ropes when it is not advisable to use a knot. The three chief varieties of the splice are the short splice, the long splice, and the eye splice. The short splice is made by unlaying the ends of two ropes for a short distance and fitting them closer together; then, by the help of a marlinspike, the ends are laced over and under the strands of the opposite rope, as shown in figure 18. When each strand has been passed through once, half of it is cut away and the remainder passed through again; half of the remainder being also cut away, it is passed a third time, and, when all the strands are so treated, they are hauled taut and cut close. This reducing the thickness of the strands tapers off the splice."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. 'Splicing' is the process employed to join two ropes when it is not advisable to use a knot. The three chief varieties of the splice are the short splice, the long splice, and the eye splice. The eye splice is, as the term implies, used to form an eye, or round a dead eye, and is shown finished in figure 19."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords. To prevent a rope fraying at the ends a variety of methods are employed, the simplest being to serve or whip the end with a small cord. Other methods are by interlacing the ends, one of which, the single wall, is shown at figure 20, the ends afterward being drawn taut and cut short."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Knots and Splices

"Knots and splices include all the various methods of tying, fastening, and joining ropes or cords.…

A noose in a rope or string.

Loop

A noose in a rope or string.

Merchant Sailing Ship

The old woman talks to the rat. "Rat, rat, gnaw the rope."

Old Woman and Pig

The old woman talks to the rat. "Rat, rat, gnaw the rope."

"The cat began to kill the rat."

Old Woman and Pig

"The cat began to kill the rat."

A cartoon of an overweight man sitting on top of a smaller man, while holding a rope.

Overweight Man Sitting on a Smaller Man

A cartoon of an overweight man sitting on top of a smaller man, while holding a rope.

Illustration of Peter being bound to an upside down cross. One man holds his upper body, while another man ties his ankles to the cross. A third man prepares to pierce Peter's feet with a large nail. Peter asked to be crucified upside down because he did not believe he was worthy of being crucified in the same manner as Jesus.

Peter Crucified on an Upside Down Cross

Illustration of Peter being bound to an upside down cross. One man holds his upper body, while another…

Scene from "Pinocchio."

Pinocchio

Scene from "Pinocchio."

The plaiting or braiding of a sennit, a flat cordage used in crafts.

Plaiting of Sennit

The plaiting or braiding of a sennit, a flat cordage used in crafts.