hawse

Meanings

Noun

• The part of the bow containing the hawseholes.
• A hawsehole or hawsepipe.
• The horizontal distance or area between an anchored vessel's bows and the actual position of her anchor(s).

Adjective

• In a position relative to the course and position of a vessel, somewhat forward of the stem.

Adverb

• Lying to two anchors, streamed from either bow.

Verb

• To lie uneasily to an anchor, typically due to a weather tide.

Origin

• Alteration of Middle English halse, from Old Norse hals ("neck") (compare Icelandic háls ("neck")).