Clew word meaning and definition

[noun] evidence that helps to solve a problem
[noun] a ball of yarn or cord or thread
[verb] roll into a ball

\Clew\, Clue \Clue\, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn["a]uel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw. [root]26. Cf. {Knawel}.] 1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself. Untwisting his deceitful clew. --Spenser. 2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a mystery. The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. --Macaulay. 3. (Naut.) (a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore-and-aft sail. (b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is suspended. {Clew garnet} (Naut.), one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards. {Clew line} (Naut.), a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its yard. {Clew-line block} (Naut.), The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust. of {Block}.
\Clew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. & vb. n. {Clewing}.] [Cf. D. kluwenen. See {Clew}, n.] 1. To direct; to guide, as by a thread. [Obs.] Direct and clew me out the way to happiness. --Beau. && Fl. 2. (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.

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