Bit the Cable

South Seas Companion
Concept

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To bit the cable was a nautical term meaning to put a cable around the bits, either to fasten it, or to allow it to be gradually slackened.

When a cable put around the bits is loosened, this was called 'veering away'.

As well as bits for securing anchor cables, eighteenth century sailing vessels used smaller bits for fastening topsail sheets, and controlling the ropes by which the lower corners of the topsails were let out.

Online Sources

Published Sources

Falconer, William, Online edition of William Falconer's Universal Dictionary of the Marine, or, a Copious Explanation of the Technical Terms and Phrases employed in the Construction, ...of a Ship...derived from the text of the London 1780 edition published by Thomas Cadell, 2004 edn, South Seas, http://paulturnbull.org/projects/southseas/refs/falc/contents.html. [ Details ]

Prepared by: Turnbull, P.
Created: 15 October 2001
Modified: 28 February 2004

Published by South Seas, 1 February 2004
Comments, questions, corrections and additions: Paul.Turnbull@jcu.edu.au
Prepared by: Paul Turnbull
Updated: 28 June 2004
To cite this page use: http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-ss-biogs-P000074

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