clew

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Datamuse reports no synonyms or antonyms for this word.

Noun

1. {{lb|en|obsolete}} A roughly spherical mass or body.
2. {{senseid|en|yarn}}{{lb|en|archaic}} A ball of [[thread]] or [[yarn]].
3. [[yarn|Yarn]] or [[thread]] as used to guide one's way through a [[maze]] or [[labyrinth]]; a guide, a [[clue]].
4. {{lb|en|nautical}} The [[lower]] [[corner]](s) of a [[sail]] to which a [[sheet]] is attached for [[trimming]] the sail (adjusting its position relative to the wind); the [[metal]] [[loop]] or [[cringle]] in the corner of the sail, to which the [[sheet]] is attached. {{lb|en|on a triangular sail}} The [[trail]]ing corner relative to the wind direction.
5. {{lb|en|in the plural}} The sheets so attached to a sail.
6. {{lb|en|nautical|in the plural}} The [[cord]]s [[suspend]]ing a [[hammock]].
7. {{archaic spelling of|en|clue}}.

Verb

1. {{lb|en|transitive}} to [[roll]] into a [[ball]]
2. {{lb|en|nautical|transitive|intransitive}} to [[raise]] the lower corner(s) of (a sail)

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.