Bitts

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bitts \Bitts\, n. pl. [Cf. F. bitte, Icel. biti, a beam. ?87.]
     (Naut.)
     A frame of two strong timbers fixed perpendicularly in the
     fore part of a ship, on which to fasten the cables as the
     ship rides at anchor, or in warping. Other bitts are used for
     belaying (belaying bitts), for sustaining the windlass


     (carrick bitts, winch bitts, or windlass bitts), to hold the
     pawls of the windlass (pawl bitts) etc.
     [1913 Webster]