Rope and knot terms

Latest revision as of 19:32, 23 November 2012

Here is glossary of common Rope and Knot terms. This article is from the now defunct Ropewiki site.

Bend

A knot that binds (bend) the ends of two ropes together.

Bight

A rope folded back on itself to form a narrow loop.

Binding

A knot that restricts object(s) by making multiple winds.

Braid

The interweaving of multiple strands.

Breaking Stength

The manufacturer's estimation of the load a rope (on new rope without knots or kinks) will bear before it ruptures.

Capsize

A knot that distorts while under strain.

Chafe

Wear caused by abrassion.

Coil

Rope looped into a series of neat circles for storage.

Cordage

A general term to cover all sorts and sizes of rope.

Coxcombing

A continuous set of hitches of one or more strands to cover an object.

Crossing Turn

A circle of rope made with the rope crossing itself.

Decorative knot

A complex knot exhibiting repeating patterns often constructed around and enhancing an object.

Eye

The hole inside a circle of rope; A permanent loop made in the end of a rope.

Fibre

The smallest threadlike component or cordage.

Frapping Turns

Additional turns made at right angles in lashings, whippings and seizings to tighten the main turns.

Fray

Unravelled, usually referring to the end of a rope.

Grommet

A continuous circle of rope. Also known as a sling.

Half Hitch

A crossing turn, often made round an object. The crossing holds the lower part in place.

Hitch

A knot that fastens a rope to an object.

Jam

When a knot cannot be untied readily.

Karabiner

An oval or D shaped snap link usually with a screw lock used by climbers and industrial riggers.

Kernmantle

Climbing rope construction consisting of a core (kern) , often of parallel bunches of fibres contained within a tightly woven protective sheath (mantle).

Kink

A tight turn in a rope that can form during use. Can damage rope fibres.

Knot

The generic word for all rope and cordage tucks and ties.

Laid Rope

Rope made by twisting.

Lashing

A knot used to hold (usually) poles together.

Lay

The direction of the twist in the rope away from the viewer, either clockwise (righthanded, Z laid) or anticlockwise (lefthanded, S laid).

Line

Another word for rope, but generally small cordage of less than half an inch (12.5mm)in diameter.

Loop

A knot used to create a closed circle in a line.

MFP

Multi Filament Polypropylene

Middle

Used as a verb, to double a rope or cord to locate the centre.

Monofilament

Continuous synthetic fibre of uniform diameter and circular cross-section of larger than 50 microns (1/500 inch).

Multifilament

Very fine continuous synthetic fibre of uniform diameter and circular cross-section of smaller than 50 microns (1/500 inch).

Natural Fibre

Processed plant products used to make rope and other cordage. Can include Cotton, Flax, Hemp, Jute, Manilla, Sisal and Silk.

Noose

A slipped loop that is closed by pulling on the standing part.

Nylon

The first synthetic (manmade) fibre available to the cordage industry.

Overhand Loop

A loop in which the working end is laid over the top of the standing part.

Plait

A number of lines interwoven in a simple regular pattern.

Polyester

A widely used synthetic cordage. (trade names Dacron and Terylene)

Polyethylene

A polyolefin synthetic fibre. (Polythene / Plastic)

Polypropylene

A versatile polyolefin synthetic fibre.

Rope Splice

A knot formed by interweaving strands of rope rather than whole lines. More time consuming but usually stronger than simple knots.

Round Turn

When a rope is wrapped around an object so that it passes the back of the object twice.

Running end

Also called the working end, refers to the tip of the rope forming a knot.

Safe Working Load

The estimated load a rope may withstand, taking into account various weakening factors (wear and tear, damage, effect of knots, and other uses) it may be as little as 1/7th the quoted breaking strength.

Seize

To join two ropes or parts of ropes together with a binding of small cordage.

Sennit

A number of lines interwoven in a complex pattern.

Sheath

The woven cover of a Braided rope.

Shock Loading

Placing sudden tempory strain on a slack rope.

Slip knot

A knot tied with a hitch around one of its parts, contrasted. with a loop, which is closed with a bend. A slip knot can be closed, a loop remains the same size.

Sling

A continuous circle of rope or tape either premade or made by joining the ends of a short piece of rope with a fisherman's knot or water knot.

Snug

To take the slack out of a knot and tighten it.

Standing End

Any part of the rope that is not the running end that is not being used to form a knot.

Splice

To fasten a rope to itself by interweaving the strands.

Standing part

The part of the rope not immediately being used in the tying of a knot.

Stopper knot

A knot tied to hold a line through a hole.

Strain

Also called tension.

Strand

A small single cord, or the largest component of a rope.

Strength

The amount of strain or tension that a rope can safely handle, or the amount it can take before breaking.

Stretch

The property of rope to become longer under strain.

Synthetic Rope

Cordage that is made from synthetic monofilaments, multifilaments, staple fibres or split film.

Thimble

A plastic or metal lining for an eye.

Trick

A knot that is used as part of a magic trick, a joke, or a puzzle.

Tuck

To pass one part of a rope under another.

Turn

A 360 degree wrap of rope around an object.

Twine

Small softly twisted cordage of less than an eighth of an inch in diameter.

Underhand Loop

A loop in which the working end is laid beneath the standing part.

Unlay

The act of untwisting or taking apart the strands of a rope.

Whipping

A permanent finish to the end of a piece of rope made with very fine twine.

Working End

The end of the rope used during the tying of the knot.

Yarn

Natural or Synthetic fibres twisted together as thread.

[edit] See Also

• Rope
• Knots