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Glite Dictionary
🪢 A rope tool ⛵ A rigging bar
fid

fid

1 9.9
A small pointed tool used to separate rope strands when splicing or fixing them
  • noun
  • /fɪd/
  • Specialized
: fid
  • The sailor used a fid to carefully separate the rope strands before splicing.

Examples

  • A wooden fid is often preferred for working with natural fiber ropes.

  • Before repairing the damaged line, she reached for her fid from the toolbox.

  • The sailor used a fid to splice the ropes.

  • He always carries a fid on his boat.

  • The sailor used a fid to carefully separate the rope strands before splicing.

  • Before repairing the damaged line, she reached for her fid from the toolbox.

  • A wooden fid is often preferred for working with natural fiber ropes.

Synonyms

marlingspike
vsfid
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A pointed metal tool for separating rope strands when joining ropes

is also made in wood as well as metal, not only metal
marlinespike
vsfid
  • Specialized
9.9

A pointed metal tool used to separate rope strands before joining them

is made in wood or metal, not specifically iron

Surface Forms

fid singular
fids plural

Etymology

The word fid began as a sailors' word for a small, pointed tool used to push apart rope strands when making a splice, so think of it as a little 'splitter' for rope. That's why a fid today is the tapered wooden or metal tool you use to separate and work rope strands.