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"[The pulley] consists of a wheel with a grooved circumference, over which a rope passes, and an axis or pin, round which the wheel may be made to turn. A represents the block, B the axis, C the wheel." —Quackenbos 1859

Pulley

"[The pulley] consists of a wheel with a grooved circumference, over which a rope passes, and an axis…

A pulley (also called a block) is a mechanism composed of a wheel (called a sheave) with a groove between two flanges around the wheel's circumference. A rope, cable or belt usually runs inside the groove. Pulleys are used to change the direction of an applied force, transmit rotational motion, or realize a mechanical advantage in either a linear or rotational system of motion.

Pulley

A pulley (also called a block) is a mechanism composed of a wheel (called a sheave) with a groove between…

One of a series of small ropes or lines which transverse the shrouds horizontally, thus forming steps or ladders for going aloft.

Ratlines

One of a series of small ropes or lines which transverse the shrouds horizontally, thus forming steps…

An illustration of a right triangle made up of a flagpole, rope, and the ground. Illustration could be used with Pythagorean Theorem.

Right Triangle Formed by Flagpole (x feet high) and Ground With Rope (x+4 feet)

An illustration of a right triangle made up of a flagpole, rope, and the ground. Illustration could…

Piece of rope.

Rope

Piece of rope.

"The large wheel a, is supposed to stand over the well, and b, a smaller wheel, is fixed in the water. The rope is extended between the two wheels, and rises on one side in a perpendicular disrection. On turning the wheel by the crank d, the water is brought up by the friction of the rope." -Comstock 1850

Rope Machine

"The large wheel a, is supposed to stand over the well, and b, a smaller wheel, is fixed in the water.…

"A rope netting at once simple and effective...This netting may be made of heavy rope for a grille in an open doorway, or a lighter rope for fringe."

Rope Netting

"A rope netting at once simple and effective...This netting may be made of heavy rope for a grille in…

A man wearing a life jacket with a line in his hand.

Sailor

A man wearing a life jacket with a line in his hand.

"Making a sash-curtain for her room.' -Beard, 1906

Making a sash-curtain

"Making a sash-curtain for her room.' -Beard, 1906

Two Scythians tying a rope. This is one of the few existing representations of the ancient Scythians. Found on a Greek Electrum Vase.

Scythians on a Greek Vase

Two Scythians tying a rope. This is one of the few existing representations of the ancient Scythians.…

Two seizings, a class of knots used to bind two parts of the same rope or to another object.

Seizing

Two seizings, a class of knots used to bind two parts of the same rope or to another object.

"A contrivance extensively employed in Egypt and the East, generally for raising water. It consists of a long stout rod suspended on a frame at about one fifth of its length from the end. The short end is weighted so as to serve as the counterpoise of a lever, and from the long end a bucket is suspended by a rope. The shadoof is extensively used in Egypt for lifting water from the Nile for irrigation" &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>This illustration shows two men using a shadoof to raise water. There is a sailboat in the background.

Shadoofs, Two Men Raising Water

"A contrivance extensively employed in Egypt and the East, generally for raising water. It consists…

The sheepshank is "a kind of knot, hitch, or bend made on a rope to shorten it temporarily." -Whitney, 1911

Sheepshank

The sheepshank is "a kind of knot, hitch, or bend made on a rope to shorten it temporarily." -Whitney,…

To form a sheet bend, pass the end of one rope through the bight of another, round both parts of the other, and under its own standing part.

Sheet Bend

To form a sheet bend, pass the end of one rope through the bight of another, round both parts of the…

"Nautically, a block with two sheaves, whose axes are at right angles to each other, used for the buntlines of the courses." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Shoe Block

"Nautically, a block with two sheaves, whose axes are at right angles to each other, used for the buntlines…

"A knot by which the two parts of a shroud which has been broken or shot away are reunited." -Whitney, 1911

Shroud Knots

"A knot by which the two parts of a shroud which has been broken or shot away are reunited." -Whitney,…

To make a crown on a single wall knot, take one of the ends, 'a', and lay it over the knot: lay 'b' over 'a', and 'c' over 'b', and through the bight of 'a'. Pull the ends taut.

Single Wall and Crown

To make a crown on a single wall knot, take one of the ends, 'a', and lay it over the knot: lay 'b'…

Unlay the end of a rope, and with the strand 'a', form a bight. Take the next strand 'b' round the end of 'a'. Take the last strand 'c' round the end of 'b', and through the bight made by 'a'. Haul the ends taut. This knot is for the purpose of forming a stopper, and to prevent the end of the rope from coming apart.

Single Wall Knot

Unlay the end of a rope, and with the strand 'a', form a bight. Take the next strand 'b' round the end…

"1. A drag or dray without wheels, but mounted on runners, for the conveyance of loads over frozen snow or ice, or over mud or the bare ground, as in transporting logs and heavy stones. Also sledge. 2. A pair of runners connected by a framework, used (sometimes with another pair) to carry loads or support the body of a vehicle, or, when of lighter build and supporting a light platform or seat, in the sport of coasting and for drawing light loads by hand." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>Illustration of a hand sled with a platform atop it and a rope with which to be pulled by a human or animal. Traditionally, these are not meant to be ridden, but used to convey materials.

Hand Sled or Sledge

"1. A drag or dray without wheels, but mounted on runners, for the conveyance of loads over frozen snow…

"A pair of runners connected by a framework, used (sometimes with another pair) to carry loads or support the body of a vehicle, or, when of lighter build and supporting a light platform or seat, in the sport of coasting and for drawing light loads by hand." &mdash;Whitney, 1889 <p>This illustration is of a hand sled. Unlike bobsleds, these sleds are not meant to be ridden. Instead, they are pulled by a person or animal, using the rope. The sleds transport materials.

Hand Sled

"A pair of runners connected by a framework, used (sometimes with another pair) to carry loads or support…

"A block used in ships, having an opening in one side to receive the bight of a rope, chiefly used for heavy purchases, where a warp or hawser is brought to the capstan." &mdash; Williams, 1889

Snatch-block

"A block used in ships, having an opening in one side to receive the bight of a rope, chiefly used for…

"A becket fitted round a boat's mast with an eye to hold the lower end of the sprit which is used to extend the sail. a, sprit with the lower end in the snotter, b." —Whitney, 1889

Snotter

"A becket fitted round a boat's mast with an eye to hold the lower end of the sprit which is used to…

A woman makes rope using an early type of machine for spinning rope yarn.

Spinning Rope Yarn

A woman makes rope using an early type of machine for spinning rope yarn.

"In making a short splice the ends of the ropes are unlaid for a short distance and brought together, the strands interlacing (A). Taking any one strand, this is woven into the laid strands of the other rope, working from left to right; the other two stands are similarly woven, but from right to left."&mdash;Finley, 1917

Short splice

"In making a short splice the ends of the ropes are unlaid for a short distance and brought together,…

"Naut., a contrivance, consisting of two wooden deadeyes and a rope lanyard, for quickly securing any standing rigging shot away in action." -Whitney, 1911

Fighting Stopper

"Naut., a contrivance, consisting of two wooden deadeyes and a rope lanyard, for quickly securing any…

To tie a timber hitch, take the end 'a' of a rope round a spar, then round the standing part 'b', then several times round its own part 'c'.

Timber Hitch

To tie a timber hitch, take the end 'a' of a rope round a spar, then round the standing part 'b', then…

Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt. Tightrope walkers sometimes use balancing poles and may perform the feat without a safety net for effect.

Wirewalking Toy

Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or…

"Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death." Matthew 26:65-66 ASV <p>Illustration of Jesus standing in trial before the High Priest, Caiaphas, and the other priests in the temple. Caiaphas rents his robe and points at Jesus in accusation. A soldier kneels at Jesus' feet with the rope that binds Jesus' feet. The soldier looks up at Jesus with arms open.

Jesus Appears Before Caiaphas, the High Priest

"Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we…

Men playing tug-of-war.

Tug-of-War

Men playing tug-of-war.

"Suport a soft cotton rope several yards long between two fixed supports, as the opposite sides of the room, or the floor and the ceiling. With a ruler, strike the rope a blow near one end so as to form a crest, as shown. Vary the tension of the rope if necessary, until the crest is easily seem. Notice the crest, c, travels from A to B, where it is reflected back to A as a trough, t." -Avery 1895

Fixed Wave Reflection

"Suport a soft cotton rope several yards long between two fixed supports, as the opposite sides of the…

Three cylindrical weights, suspended on ropes and pulleys.

Weights and Pulleys

Three cylindrical weights, suspended on ropes and pulleys.

"The wheel and axle consists of a wheel united to a cylinder in such a way that they may turn together on a common axis. It is a modified lever of the first or second class." -Avery 1895

Wheel and Axle with Rope and Bucket

"The wheel and axle consists of a wheel united to a cylinder in such a way that they may turn together…

"Instead of having a rope attached to it, the wheel is often provided with projecting pins, as shown, to which the hand is directly applied." &mdash;Quackenbos 1859

Wheel and Axle with Spokes

"Instead of having a rope attached to it, the wheel is often provided with projecting pins, as shown,…

"Features six movable pulleys aligned on the same axis. This pulley was invented to reduce the friction of each block to a single wheel." &mdash;Quackenbos 1859

White's Pulley

"Features six movable pulleys aligned on the same axis. This pulley was invented to reduce the friction…