The Collaborative International Dictionary
Selvagee \Sel`va*gee"\, n. (Naut.) A skein or hank of rope yarns wound round with yarns or marline, -- used for stoppers, straps, etc.
Wiktionary
n. (context nautical English) A skein or hank of rope yarns wound round with yarns or marline, used for stoppers, straps, etc.
Usage examples of "selvagee".
The face of the rammer is hollowed, so as to embrace the front of the ball and press the selvagee wad home in its place.
Yet it was not when Oakes was on duty that Jack, leaning over the side with Adams to measure the salinity, heard a voice float down from the fore crosstrees in answer to the cry 'Don't you know you must pass the selvagee first, damn your eyes?
Perhaps now we shall hear less of selvagees and booms -the inner jib, the outer jib - nay, to crown all, the jibs of jibs, God forbid.