GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   { Clew , Clue, } n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, knäuel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw. √26. Cf. Knawel.]
   A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself.
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   Untwisting his deceitful clew.
   Spenser.
   
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   That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a mystery.
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   The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands.
   Macaulay.
   
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   (Naut.) (a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore-and-aft sail. (b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is suspended.
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   Clew garnet (Naut.), one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards. -- Clew line (Naut.), a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its yard. -- Clew-line block (Naut.), The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust. of Block.
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2.       
   Clew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clewed p. pr. & vb. n. Clewing.] [Cf. D. kluwenen. See Clew, n.]
   To direct; to guide, as by a thread. [Obs.]
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   Direct and clew me out the way to happiness.
   Beau. & Fl.
   
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   (Naut.) To move of draw (a sail or yard) by means of the clew garnets, clew lines, etc.; esp. to draw up the clews of a square sail to the yard.
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   To clew down (Naut.), to force (a yard) down by hauling on the clew lines. -- To clew up (Naut.), to draw (a sail) up to the yard, as for furling.
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