clew

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) to roll into a ball
2. (intransitive, transitive) to raise the lower corner(s) of (a sail)

Noun

1. (obsolete) A roughly spherical mass or body.
2. (archaic) A ball of thread or yarn.
3. Yarn or thread as used to guide one's way through a maze or labyrinth; a guide, a clue.
4. 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.
5. (in-plural) The sheets so attached to a sail.
6. (in-plural) The cords suspending a hammock.
7. (alt-of, obsolete) Obsolete spelling of clue.

Synonyms

clue

cue

conductor

crewel

denotation

driver

filament

get around

guide

guidebook

imprint

index

indication

mar

mark

mill

print

ratchet

revolve

rotate

run

scent

shadow

slot

spin

spoor

spot

strand

swirl

thread

🧵

tincture

token

trace

track

trail

troll

🧌

tumble

turn

twiddle

twirl

vestige

wallop

whirl

whirlpool

yarn

🧶

mill about

ball

whirl around

blemish

Translations

gomitolo

bugna

Anhaltspunkt

indicio

indizio

ovillo

indice

Frage

❓

Faden

🧶

indici

Knäul

οδηγός

νήμα

ένδειξη

Knäuel

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kluː/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: clewe

Inherited from Old English: cleowen

Cognate with Old English: clǣġ

In summary

From Middle English clewe, from Old English cleowen, cliewen, cliwen (“sphere, ball, skein; ball of thread or yarn; mass, group”), from Proto-Germanic *kliuwiną, *klewô (“ball, bale”), from Proto-Indo-European *glew- (“to conglomerate, gather into a mass; clump, ball, bale”). Akin to Old English clǣġ (“clay”). Doublet of knawel.