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cringle

American  
[kring-guhl] / ˈkrɪŋ gəl /

noun

Nautical.
  1. an eye or grommet formed on the boltrope of a sail to permit the attachment of lines.


cringle British  
/ ˈkrɪŋɡəl /

noun

  1. an eye at the edge of a sail, usually formed from a thimble or grommet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cringle

First recorded in 1620–30; from Low German kringel, equivalent to kring “circle” + -el diminutive suffix; cognate with Middle English Cringle (in placenames), Old Norse kringla “circle”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

This is placed on the upper side of the gaff, to pass the outer earing round from the cringle.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher

A rope rove through the cringle of a sail, for hauling in, so as to lace on a bonnet.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher

The cringle or loop in the leech of a sail.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher

If a large cringle is needed, count an extra number of lays—5, 7, etc., always an odd number.

From Knots, Bends, Splices With tables of strengths of ropes, etc. and wire rigging by J. Netherclift Jutsum

On each side of the sail, at the end of each reef band, was a cringle, or eye, in which the reef pendent was fastened.

From Outward Bound Or, Young America Afloat by Oliver Optic

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