eye

The Sailor's Word-Book

The circular loop of a shroud or stay where it goes over the mast.


♦ To eye, to observe minutely.

♦ Flemish eye, a phrase particularly applied to the eye of a stay, which is either formed at the making of the rope; or by dividing the yarns into two equal parts, knotting each pair separately, and pointing the whole over after parcelling. This eye stopped by the mouse forms the collar. It is not strong, soon rots, and seldom, if ever, used now where strength is of more importance than neatness.

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