athwart hawse

2 definitions found

athwart hawse - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Hawse \Hawse\ (h[add]z or h[add]s; 277), n. [Orig. a hawse hole,
     or hole in the bow of the ship; cf. Icel. hals, h[=a]ls,
     neck, part of the bows of a ship, AS. heals neck. See
     Collar, and cf. Halse to embrace.]
     1. A hawse hole. --Harris.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Naut.)
        (a) The situation of the cables when a vessel is moored
            with two anchors, one on the starboard, the other on
            the port bow.
        (b) The distance ahead to which the cables usually extend;
            as, the ship has a clear or open hawse, or a foul
            hawse; to anchor in our hawse, or athwart hawse.
        (c) That part of a vessel's bow in which are the hawse
            holes for the cables.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     Athwart hawse. See under Athwart.
  
     Foul hawse, a hawse in which the cables cross each other,
        or are twisted together.
  
     Hawse block, a block used to stop up a hawse hole at sea;
        -- called also hawse plug.
  
     Hawse piece, one of the foremost timbers of a ship, through
        which the hawse hole is cut.
  
     Hawse plug. Same as Hawse block (above).
  
     To come in at the hawse holes, to enter the naval service
        at the lowest grade. [Cant]
  
     To freshen the hawse, to veer out a little more cable and
        bring the chafe and strain on another part.
        [1913 Webster] hawsehole

  Athwart \A*thwart"\, prep. [Pref. a- + thwart.]
     1. Across; from side to side of.
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              Athwart the thicket lone.             --Tennyson.
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     2. (Naut.) Across the direction or course of; as, a fleet
        standing athwart our course.
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     Athwart hawse, across the stem of another vessel, whether
        in contact or at a small distance.
  
     Athwart ships, across the ship from side to side, or in
        that direction; -- opposed to fore and aft.
        [1913 Webster]