The Collaborative International Dictionary
Futtock \Fu"ttock\, n. [Prob. corrupted fr. foothook.] (Naut.) One of the crooked timbers which are scarfed together to form the lower part of the compound rib of a vessel; one of the crooked transverse timbers passing across and over the keel.
Futtock plates (Naut.), plates of iron to which the dead-eyes of the topmast rigging are secured.
Futtock shrouds, short iron shrouds leading from the upper
part of the lower mast or of the main shrouds to the edge
of the top, or through it, and connecting the topmast
rigging with the lower mast.
--Totten.
Wiktionary
n. (context nautical English) Any of the curved timbers that form the ribs of a ship.
WordNet
Wikipedia
Usage examples of "futtock".
Gil knew he was supposed to do it properly, pulling himself up the futtock shrouds and angling his body out, up onto the top, but played it safe instead, snaking up through the lubber hole.
Tristam wedged his back against the mast and pushed his legs through the trestletrees, hooking his feet into the futtock shrouds, but, even so, he was forced to clap onto a line with his hands regularly.
He swung himself around the futtock shrouds, the wind catching his coat and shaking it like a luffing sail.
After reaching the futtock shrouds, he swung out and over, stepping on up the topmast.
And when the Admiral sees the state of her futtocks, I doubt he will transport anything very valuable in her: the ice gave her as cruel a wrench as ever a ship could have and still swim.
Lastly the shortest part of a total mast, the royal, was stepped in place and, when all three masts were up the intricate work of supporting them with futtocks, stays and shrouds was begun.
Tristam wedged his back against the mast and pushed his legs through the trestletrees, hooking his feet into the futtock shrouds, but, even so, he was forced to clap onto a line with his hands regularly.
Eighteen thousand treenails locked futtocks and planks, beams and breasthooks, stem and stern-post .
They have heaved her down, you know, and what has happened to her futtocks and top-timbers.
He climbed the lower ratlines which were easy for they leaned like a ladder against the mast, but then he came to the place where the futtock shrouds went out and backward above his head.
Up and up, around the futtock shrouds and past the hooded swivel gun there to the topmast and further still towards the look-out who sat so calmly on the crosstrees, as if he was on a comfortable village bench.
Up and around the maintop, where two startled marines were cleaning a swivel gun, and gritting his teeth still harder to control the rising nausea as he felt the pull of his weight against his fingers while his body hung outwards on the futtock shrouds.