The Collaborative International Dictionary
Cable \Ca"ble\ (k[=a]"b'l), n. [F. c[^a]ble, LL. capulum, caplum, a rope, fr. L. capere to take; cf. D., Dan., & G. kabel, from the French. See Capable.]
A large, strong rope or chain, of considerable length, used to retain a vessel at anchor, and for other purposes. It is made of hemp, of steel wire, or of iron links.
A rope of steel wire, or copper wire, usually covered with some protecting or insulating substance; as, the cable of a suspension bridge; a telegraphic cable.
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(Arch) A molding, shaft of a column, or any other member of convex, rounded section, made to resemble the spiral twist of a rope; -- called also cable molding. Bower cable, the cable belonging to the bower anchor. Cable road, a railway on which the cars are moved by a continuously running endless rope operated by a stationary motor. Cable's length, the length of a ship's cable. Cables in the merchant service vary in length from 100 to 140 fathoms or more; but as a maritime measure, a cable's length is either 120 fathoms (720 feet), or about 100 fathoms (600 feet, an approximation to one tenth of a nautical mile). Cable tier.
That part of a vessel where the cables are stowed.
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A coil of a cable.
Sheet cable, the cable belonging to the sheet anchor.
Stream cable, a hawser or rope, smaller than the bower cables, to moor a ship in a place sheltered from wind and heavy seas.
Submarine cable. See Telegraph.
To pay out the cable, To veer out the cable, to slacken it, that it may run out of the ship; to let more cable run out of the hawse hole.
To serve the cable, to bind it round with ropes, canvas, etc., to prevent its being, worn or galled in the hawse, et.
To slip the cable, to let go the end on board and let it all run out and go overboard, as when there is not time to weigh anchor. Hence, in sailor's use, to die.
Usage examples of "cable tier".
When eight bells told the end of the afternoon watch and the beginning of the first dog watch it was with trepidation that Hornblower went below to put a candle in a lantern and make his way forward to the cable tier.
He had still not died, but had been moved to the cable tier, the only place where the stench of the great slimy rope was matched by his own.
Neale's sudden appearance had made quite a sensation when he had flung open the doors of the cable tier.
My men are plugging one shot hole aft by the magazine but there must be another one for'ard in the cable tier.
We'll need hands at the pumps, sir, an' I'd like half a dozen more in the cable tier.
For he'd surely guide us on to a reef rather than help us, even if we shut him in the cable tier where he would be the first to strike!
Why was I bothering to look for a ladder or a conduit through to the tow cable tier?