What is "shroud knot"

n. a type of bend knot used to join the ends of laid ropes, by separating the strands and knotting them together individually. Commonly used to join a snapped shroud rope.

The Shroud knot is a multi-strand bend knot used to join two ends of laid (or twisted) rope together. Shroud knots, in general, are a class of knots in which the individual strands of laid rope are knotted, but not woven, to the individual strands of another laid rope. This makes them more secure than a simple bend but less secure than a full splice.

Shroud knots were originally used as a quick way of repairing a rope that had broken aboard a ship. As modern ships now use steel cable for the most part, the knots are now more often used decoratively than functionally.