The Collaborative International Dictionary
Clew \Clew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clewed p. pr. & vb. n. Clewing.] [Cf. D. kluwenen. See Clew, n.]
-
To direct; to guide, as by a thread. [Obs.]
Direct and clew me out the way to happiness.
--Beau. & Fl. -
(Naut.) To move of draw (a sail or yard) by means of the clew garnets, clew lines, etc.; esp. to draw up the clews of a square sail to the yard.
To clew down (Naut.), to force (a yard) down by hauling on the clew lines.
To clew up (Naut.), to draw (a sail) up to the yard, as for furling. [1913 Webster] ||
Wiktionary
vb. (present participle of clew English)
Usage examples of "clewing".
As a rule, though, it was only clewing up the sails that had to be done, as we always had to take soundings on the weather side, so that the sounding-line should not foul the bottom of the vessel and smash the apparatus.
All he could see were three or four men on the Peacock's quarterdeck, and a few more men clewing up the courses.
Her watch had clambered about the rigging like ants on floating debris, clewing down, close reefing and furling in response to order after order, until she had stopped thinking at all, only moving to obey the bellowed commands.
Asera said as the hermit came back to take over the tiller and the sheets clewing the sail.
Before the light ended, they were busy clewing another sail to the yards.
They were rapidly clewing up the courses - but why reduce speed at a time like this?
There was a slatting of canvas as the men started clewing up the huge courses, and the Calypso slowed down.