hawsehole

American  

[hawz-hohl, haws-] / ˈhɔzˌhoʊl, ˈhɔs- /

noun

Nautical.

1. a hole in the stem or bow of a vessel for an anchor cable.

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hawsehole British  

/ ˈhɔːzˌhəʊl /

noun

1. Often shortened to: hawse.  nautical one of the holes in the upper part of the bows of a vessel through which the anchor ropes pass

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Etymology

Origin of hawsehole

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

At last she stopped; at last the cable rattled through the hawsehole; and then, careless of the chance of lurking Spaniard or Carib, an instinctive cheer burst from every throat.

From Westward Ho!, or, the voyages and adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the county of Devon, in the reign of her most glorious majesty Queen Elizabeth by Kingsley, Charles

Crawl in at the cabin windows and don't bother about the hawsehole.

From Marcy The Blockade Runner by White, George G. (George Gorgas)

At length, when they heard the cable slipping through the hawsehole, they could stand it no longer, but sprang up the side in a body.

From Gascoyne, The Sandal-Wood Trader A Tale of the Pacific by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)