Hawser

2 definitions found

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

  Hawser \Haws"er\ (h[add]z"[~e]r or h[add]s"[~e]r), n. [From F.
     hausser to lift, raise (cf. OF. hausser['e]e towpath, towing,
     F. haussi[`e]re hawser), LL. altiare, fr. L. altus high. See
     {Haughty}.]
     A large rope made of three strands each containing many
     yarns.


     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Three hawsers twisted together make a cable; but it
           nautical usage the distinction between cable and hawser
           is often one of size rather than of manufacture.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Hawser iron}, a calking iron.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  hawser
       n : large heavy rope for nautical use