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Glite Dictionary
headfast

headfast

9.9
A strong rope that ties the front of a boat to a dock
  • noun
  • Archaic
: cabo de proa
  • The sailor tightened the headfast to keep the bow of the boat steady against the dock.

Examples

  • During the storm, the headfast held firm and prevented the vessel from drifting.

  • They tied the headfast to the cleat on the wharf.

  • Before leaving the ship, he checked that both the headfast and sternfast were secure.

  • Without a proper headfast, the boat could drift away.

  • Before leaving the ship, he checked that the headfast was securely tied to the dock.

  • The sailor adjusted the headfast to ensure the ship remained stable during the night.

  • Without a strong headfast, the boat risked drifting away from the wharf.

Synonyms

mooring line
vsheadfast
  • Specialized
2 5.9

A strong rope that ties a boat to a dock so it does not move

is tied at the vessel's front to hold it to the wharf

Surface Forms

headfast singular
headfasts plural

Morphology

headfast = head + fast (semi-transparent) = head + fast

The components 'head' and 'fast' are interpretable, but the specific nautical meaning 'mooring line at the bow' is specialized and not directly predictable by a general learner.

Etymology

The word headfast comes from head, meaning the front of a ship, and fast, meaning 'firm' or 'fixed', so it names the rope or line that keeps the ship's head, the bow, held firmly to the dock.