What is "sheet bend"

Sheet \Sheet\, n. [OE. shete, schete, AS. sc[=e]te, sc[=y]te, fr. sce['a]t a projecting corner, a fold in a garment (akin to D. schoot sheet, bosom, lap, G. schoss bosom, lap, flap of a coat, Icel. skaut, Goth. skauts the hem of a garment); originally, that which shoots out, from the root of AS. sce['o]tan to shoot. [root]159. See Shoot, v. t.] In general, a large, broad piece of anything thin, as paper, cloth, etc.; a broad, thin portion of any substance; an expanded superficies. Specifically: (a) A broad piece of cloth, usually linen or cotton, used for wrapping the body or for a covering; especially, one used as an article of bedding next to the body. He fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners. --Acts x. 10, 1

1. If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me In one of those same sheets.
   --Shak. (b) A broad piece of paper, whether folded or unfolded, whether blank or written or printed upon; hence, a letter; a newspaper, etc. (c) A single signature of a book or a pamphlet; in pl., the book itself.

   To this the following sheets are intended for a full and distinct answer.
   --Waterland. (d) A broad, thinly expanded portion of metal or other substance; as, a sheet of copper, of glass, or the like; a plate; a leaf. (e) A broad expanse of water, or the like. ``The two beautiful sheets of water.''
   --Macaulay. (f) A sail.
   --Dryden. (g) (Geol.) An extensive bed of an eruptive rock intruded between, or overlying, other strata.

2. [AS. sce['a]ta. See the Etymology above.] (Naut.)

   1. A rope or chain which regulates the angle of adjustment of a sail in relation in relation to the wind; -- usually attached to the lower corner of a sail, or to a yard or a boom.

   2. pl. The space in the forward or the after part of a boat where there are no rowers; as, fore sheets; stern sheets.

      Note: Sheet is often used adjectively, or in combination, to denote that the substance to the name of which it is prefixed is in the form of sheets, or thin plates or leaves; as, sheet brass, or sheet-brass; sheet glass, or sheet-glass; sheet gold, or sheet-gold; sheet iron, or sheet-iron, etc.

      A sheet in the wind, half drunk. [Sailors' Slang]

      Both sheets in the wind, very drunk. [Sailors' Slang]

      In sheets, lying flat or expanded; not folded, or folded but not bound; -- said especially of printed sheets.

      Sheet bend (Naut.), a bend or hitch used for temporarily fastening a rope to the bight of another rope or to an eye.

      Sheet lightning, Sheet piling, etc. See under Lightning, Piling, etc.

n. A type of knot that can be used to join two ropes of different diameters.

n. a hitch used for temporarily tying a rope to the middle of another rope (or to an eye) [syn: becket bend, weaver's knot, weaver's hitch]

The sheet bend (also known as becket bend, weaver's knot and weaver's hitch) is a bend, that is, a knot that joins two ropes together. Doubled, it is effective in binding lines of different diameter or rigidity securely together, although it has a tendency to work loose when not under load.

The sheet bend is related in structure to the bowline. It is very fast to tie, and along with the bowline and clove hitch is considered so essential it is knot №1 in the Ashley Book of Knots. It is a more secure replacement for the reef knot (square knot), especially in its doubled variety.

The "weaver's knot" takes its common name from its historic use in textile mills. Even in modern operations, weavers are taught to use this particular knot when correcting broken threads in the warp. In practice, weavers are taught to be able to tie the knot in as little time possible, with the mean average being no more than three to five seconds.