English Dictionary

clew

/kluː/

noun

(obsolete) A roughly spherical mass or body. / (archaic) A ball of thread or yarn. / Yarn or thread as used to guide one's way through a maze or labyrinth; a guide, a clue.

He found a clew of yarn in the attic.

意味（1）

(obsolete) A roughly spherical mass or body.

If the whole troupe be diuided into many clewes, or round bunches, you need not then doubt but that there are many kings.

意味（2）

(archaic) A ball of thread or yarn.

[O]nely ſinne

And helliſh obſtinacie tye thy tongue

That truth ſhould be ſuſpected, ſpeake, iſ't ſo?

If it be ſo, you haue wound a goodly clewe:

If it be not, forſweare't how ere I charge thee,

As heauen ſhall work in me for thine auaile

[O]nely ſinne And helliſh obſtinacie tye thy tongue That truth ſhould be ſuſpected, ſpeake, iſ't ſo? If it be ſo, you haue wound a goodly clewe: If it be not, forſweare't how ere I charge thee, As heauen ſhall work in me for thine auaile To tell me truelie.

意味（3）

Yarn or thread as used to guide one's way through a maze or labyrinth; a guide, a clue.

Therto haue I a remedye in my thought

That by a clewe of twyne, as he hath gone

The ſame way he may returne anone

Therto haue I a remedye in my thought That by a clewe of twyne, as he hath gone The ſame way he may returne anone Folowyng alwey yͤ threde as he hath come.]

意味（4）

(nautical) The lower corner(s) of a sail to which a sheet is attached for trimming the sail (adjusting its position relative to the wind); the metal loop or cringle in the corner of the sail, to which the sheet is attached. (on a triangular sail) The trailing corner relative to the wind direction.

'Mid the rattle of blocks and the tramp of the crew,

Hisses the rain of the rushing squall;

The sails are aback from clew to clew,

'Mid the rattle of blocks and the tramp of the crew, Hisses the rain of the rushing squall; The sails are aback from clew to clew, And now is the moment for MAINSAIL, HAUL!

意味（5）

(in the plural) The sheets so attached to a sail.

The canvas running up in a proud sweep,

The canvas running up in a proud sweep, Wind-wrinkled at the clews, and white like lint,

意味（6）

(nautical, in the plural) The cords suspending a hammock.

He taught us how to attach the clews to the ends of the hammock and then lash it between jack stays.

意味（7）

Obsolete spelling of clue

With this clew, let us endeavour to unravel this character of Herod as here given.