This page explains commonly used terms related toknots.
A bend is a knot used to join two lengths of rope.
A bight is a slack part in the middle of a rope, usually a curve or loop.[1][2] Knots that can be tied without access to either end of the rope are called knotsin the bight. To tie a knotwith a bight is to double up the rope into a bight and then tie the knot using the double rope.
Binding knots are knots that either constrict a single object or hold two objects snugly together.Whippings,seizings andlashings serve a similar purpose to binding knots, but contain too manywraps to be properly called a knot.[1] In binding knots, the ends of rope are either joined together or tucked under the turns of the knot.
Another term for theworking end.[3]
A knot that has capsized orspilled has deformed into a different structure. Although capsizing is sometimes the result of incorrect tying or misuse, it can also be done purposefully in certain cases to strengthen the knot (see thecarrick bend[4]) or to untie a seized knot which would otherwise be difficult to release (seereef knot).
Chirality is the 'handedness' of a knot.Topologically speaking, a knot and its mirror image may or may not haveknot equivalence.[5]
A decorative knot is anyaesthetically pleasing knot. Although it is not necessarily the case, most decorative knots also have practical applications or were derived from other well-known knots.[6] Decorative knotting is one of the oldest and most widely distributed types offolk art.[6]
Knot dressing is the process of arranging a knot in such a way as to improve its performance. Crossing or uncrossing the rope in a specific way, depending on the knot, can increase the knot's strength as well as reduce itsjamming potential.[7]
An elbow refers to any two nearby crossings of a rope. An elbow is created when an additional twist is made in aloop.[8]
Theeye is in fact what is often (in error) referred to as aloop.The eye functions in the same way as aneye bolt or aneye splice. The eye provides a means to form connections. The eye of a knot (or a splice) isfixed and does not slip. If it slipped, it would not function as an eye - it would act like anoose.
A flake refers to any number ofturns in a coiled rope. Likewise, to flake a rope means to coil it.[1]
"Flaking" or "Faking" also means to lay a rope on a surface ready to use or to run out quickly without tangles.[9]
Fraps or "frapping turns" are a set of loops coiled perpendicularly around thewraps of alashing as a means of tightening.[10]
A frictionhitch is a knot that attaches one rope to another in a way that allows the knot's position to easily be adjusted. Sometimes friction hitches are called slide-and-grip knots.[11] They are often used inclimbing applications.
A hitch is a knot that attaches a rope to some object, often a ring, rail, spar, post, or perhaps another rope, as in the case of therolling hitch.[12]
Ajamming knot is any knot that becomes very difficult to untie after use.[13] Knots that are resistant to jamming are callednon-jamming knots.
A lashing is an arrangement of rope used to secure two or more items together in a rigid manner. Common uses include the joining ofscaffolding poles and the securing ofsailing masts.[14][15] Thesquare lashing,diagonal lashing, andshear lashing are well-known lashings used to bind poles perpendicularly, diagonally, and in parallel, respectively.[16]
In reference to knots,loop may refer to:
A loop is one of the fundamental structures used to tie knots. It is a full circle formed by passing the working end of a rope over itself. When the legs of aclosed loop are crossed to form a loop, the rope hastaken aturn.[1]
A loop knot is a type of knot that creates a fixed loop on the rope, where "fixed" means that pulling on the rope does not cause the loop to slide or shrink. In contrast to ahitch, the loop formed by a loop knot maintains its structure regardless of whether or not the loop is around an object.[1]
A loop can be formed by tying "in the bight" or otherwise. An example is thefigure-eight loop knot, which can be tiedin the bight, by tying afigure-eight knot using a bight instead of the end of the rope. However, tying the knot this way does not allow putting the loop around a fixed object like a tree; to do that, the knot must be tied in a two-stage process by first tying afigure-eight knot, running the end of the rope around the fixed object, and then threading the rope back through and around the figure-8 knot to create the final figure-8 loop knot.
A noose can refer to any sliding loop in which the loop tightens when pulled.[4]
An open loop is a curve in a rope that resembles asemicircle in which the legs are not touching or crossed. The legs of an open loop are brought together narrower than they are in abight.[1]
A seizing is a knot that binds two pieces of rope together side by side, normally in order to create a loop. The structure of seizings is similar to that oflashings.[18]
Setting a knot is the process of tightening it. Improper setting can cause certain knots to underperform.[7]
A slipped knot is any knot that unties when an end is pulled. Thus, tying the slipped form of a knot makes it easier to untie, especially when the knot is prone tojamming.[1] Aslip knot is just one variety of slipped knot.
Small-stuff is anautical and knot-tying term for thinstring ortwine, as opposed to the thick, heavyropes that are more often used in sailing. It is commonly used in awhipping to bind the ends of ropes to prevent fraying.
Historically, the term referred to cordage less than one inch incircumference.[19] Much of the small-stuff on board ships, especially that used for decorative or fancyropework, was made by thesailors themselves reusing materials unlaid from old and leftover pieces of larger rope and cable.[20]
Splicing is a method of joining two ropes done by untwisting and then re-weaving the rope's strands.[21]
The standing end (or standing part) of a rope is the part that is not active in knot tying.[1] The opposite end is theworking end.[4]
A stopper knot is the type of knot tied to prevent a rope from slipping through agrommet.[22] Theoverhand knot is the simplest single-strand stopper knot.[1]
Aturn is one round of rope on a pin or cleat, or one round of a coil.
A whipping is a binding knot tied around the end of a rope to prevent the rope from unraveling.[18]
The working end (or working part) of a rope is the part active in knot tying.[1] The opposite end is thestanding end.[4]
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