Home › Glossary › Letter C

clew

Nautical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The lower after corner of a fore-and-aft sail, or the lower corners of a square sail.

Detailed Definition
The clew is the working corner of the sail, where the sheet attaches to adjust the sail's angle. In poetry, it becomes a metonym for control and the point where force is applied for turning and trimming. Its location at the sail's base connects it to grounding and the practical management of wind's energy. The phrase "clew up" means to haul a sail up to the yard, implying furling and the end of work. Poets use the clew to discuss the handling of external pressures, the fine grip of human agency on the vast forces of nature, and the humble, often overlooked, particulars that govern larger movements.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Luff up, boys! clew up, and furl every sail; clear the cables—let all fly, and clew” (The Temperance Crew).; “Loud rang the clew-line cries; Sam in his bunk within the half-deck heard” (from a narrative poem).; “Ho, let her rip—with her royal clew a-quiver, and the long miles reeling out behind” (Cicely Fox Smith).; The clew in poetry represents the point of control, where force is applied for turning and trimming.; Poets use the clew to discuss the fine grip of human agency on vast natural forces.; The clew’s humble position at the sail’s base reminds us that small particulars govern larger movements.
Additional Notes
The clew is the lower corner of a sail, the point where the sheet is attached to control the sail's angle to the wind. In poetry, it represents the specific point of control, the fine adjustment that can make all the difference to the ship's performance. It symbolizes the application of precise, focused force to manage larger systems, a metaphor for the delicate grip of human agency on vast natural forces. The phrase "clew up" means to haul a sail up to the yard, implying furling, ending work, and preparing for rest or storm. This dual meaning—as a point of control and a signal of closure—offers poets a rich resource for exploring themes of handling, manipulation, and the necessity of letting go. The clew's humble position at the sail's base grounds the loftier imagery of the mast and canvas.
Also Known As
Clew line tack (of a sail)
Skip to main content