01 n. A large, strong rope or chain, of considerable length, used to retain a vessel at anchor, and for other purposes. It is made of hemp, of st…
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1.
A large, strong rope or chain, of considerable length, used to retain a vessel at anchor, and for other purposes. It is made of hemp, of steel wire, or of iron links.
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2.
A rope of steel wire, or copper wire, usually covered with some protecting or insulating substance; as, the cable of a suspension bridge; a telegraphic cable.
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3.
A molding, shaft of a column, or any other member of convex, rounded section, made to resemble the spiral twist of a rope; -- called also cable molding.(Arch) Also: cable molding
Phrases & compounds
Bower cable —
the cable belonging to the bower anchor.
Cable road —
a railway on which the cars are moved by a continuously running endless rope operated by a stationary motor.
Cable's length —
the length of a ship's cable. Cables in the merchant service vary in length from 100 to 140 fathoms or more; but as a maritime measure, a cable's length is either 120 fathoms (720 feet), or about 100 fathoms (600 feet, an approximation to one tenth of a nautical mile).
Cable tier —
That part of a vessel where the cables are stowed.
Sheet cable —
the cable belonging to the sheet anchor.
Stream cable —
a hawser or rope, smaller than the bower cables, to moor a ship in a place sheltered from wind and heavy seas.
Submarine cable —
See Telegraph.
To pay out the cable —
to slacken it, that it may run out of the ship; to let more cable run out of the hawse hole.
To serve the cable —
to bind it round with ropes, canvas, etc., to prevent its being, worn or galled in the hawse, et.
To slip the cable —
to let go the end on board and let it all run out and go overboard, as when there is not time to weigh anchor. Hence, in sailor's use, to die.