The Collaborative International Dictionary
To clew down
Clew \Clew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clewed p. pr. & vb. n. Clewing.] [Cf. D. kluwenen. See Clew, n.]
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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] ||