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fisherman's bend

fisherman's bend

8.8
A knot used to hold a rope to a ring or pole
  • noun
  • /ˈfɪʃərmənz bɛnd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : nudo de pescador
  • He secured the sail with a fisherman's bend to ensure it wouldn't come loose during the storm.

Examples

  • The sailor demonstrated how to make a fisherman's bend for attaching the rope to the cleat.

  • There's a sheepshank, fisherman's bend.

  • To tie the fishing line to the hook, she used a reliable fisherman's bend knot.

Synonyms

hitch
vsfisherman's bend
  • Specialized
5 4.8

A quick knot that can be tied and untied

is used when a more permanent or secure attachment is required
half hitch
vsfisherman's bend
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A simple knot that holds a rope by looping its end around an object

is intended for firmer securing rather than a very simple temporary wrap
clove hitch
vsfisherman's bend
  • Specialized
1 8.5

A knot to fasten a rope to a post that is quick to tie and untie

is used for a more secure fastening rather than a temporary tie
sheet bend
vsfisherman's bend
  • Jargon
1 8.4

A knot used to join one rope to another, even when they are different thicknesses

secures a rope to a fixed object like a spar or ring instead of joining ropes
rolling hitch
vsfisherman's bend
  • Specialized
9.2

A knot that ties a rope to a pole or another rope to stop it sliding one way

is for general securing rather than resisting force in one direction
magnus hitch
vsfisherman's bend
  • Specialized
9.9

A strong knot used to tie a rope to a pole or another rope

is the standard fastening rather than a reinforced higher security version
timber hitch
vsfisherman's bend
  • Specialized
8.5

A knot for fastening a rope around a log or pole to move it

is for general securing to objects rather than hauling heavy loads
weaver's knot
vsfisherman's bend
  • Specialized
8.9

To tie one rope or thread temporarily to the middle of another rope to join them

secures a rope to an object such as a spar or ring rather than joining ropes
becket bend
vsfisherman's bend
  • Specialized
9.9

A knot that ties one rope to the middle of another rope or to a loop

attaches a rope to a fixed object like a spar or ring rather than joining ropes

Surface Forms

Morphology

fisherman's + bend

The phrase combines 'fisherman's' (clearly signaling a fishing/nautical domain) with 'bend', but the ordinary B1 sense of 'bend' is a curve, not a knot. English nautical jargon uses 'bend' to mean a type of knot, so the domain cue makes the item partially inferable but the specialized sense of 'bend' is not predictable from the basic definition, making understanding only partially likely without prior exposure.

Etymology

Fisherman's bend gets its name from fishermen who used the knot to tie a rope around a ring or pole, and a bend is a knot for joining a rope to something. Because it holds well even when wet and slippery, the name means 'a knot used to secure a rope to a spar or ring'.