half hitch

noun

1. a knot or hitch made by forming a bight and passing the end of the rope around the standing part and through the bight.

half-hitch

noun

1. a knot made by passing the end of a piece of rope around itself and through the loop thus made

Word History and Origins

Origin of half hitch¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Tie off using two or three half-hitch knots.

From New York Times

Billy could rope a steer, take a double half-hitch about the horn with his riata, and dismount, and his horse would play the steer as an angler plays a fish, keeping a tight rope until the steer was down or beaten.

From Literature

His half-hitch, half-saunter stride also captivates.

From Golf Digest

The already-spun yarn gets wrapped around the base of the spindle and tied in a half-hitch around the dowel.

From Washington Times

By putting your foot on the shoe so that your toes come just under the bridle and binding it fast with the wick, making a half-hitch on each side and tying a knot at the back of your shoe you can make a fastening that will hold tightly as long as you want it too, but will permit you to free your foot with a single twist in an emergency.”

From Project Gutenberg