clewline

clew +‎ line

clewline (plural clewlines)

1. (sailing) Outermost of the ropes with which a square sail is rolled up to the yard
   • 1863, Richard Henry Dana Jr, Captain Brown, Dana's Seaman's friend, page 24:

     If the halyards are not single, the yard must be sent down by a yard rope, like the topgallant yard. In some vessels, instead of making the sheets and clewlines fast to the jack, over-hand knots are taken in their ends, and they are let go.

• cordage

• buntline