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Glite Dictionary
riding bitt

riding bitt

9.9
A large strong post on a ship's deck that holds the anchor cable
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : bit
  • The crew quickly wrapped the anchor cable around the riding bitt to secure the ship.

Examples

  • The sailor secured the anchor line to the riding bitt.

  • Maintenance of the riding bitt is a regular part of the ship’s safety checks.

  • During heavy storms, the strength of the riding bitt was crucial for keeping the vessel steady.

  • The riding bitts on the ship were well-maintained.

  • During heavy storms, the strength of the riding bitt was crucial for securing the anchor cable on the ship.

  • The crew quickly wrapped the anchor cable around the riding bitt to keep the ship from drifting.

  • Maintenance of the riding bitt is essential for ensuring the safety of the vessel during anchoring.

Synonyms

bitt
vsriding bitt
  • Specialized
9.9

A strong post on a ship or pier that you wrap a rope around to hold the boat

is specifically for anchoring a dropped cable rather than general mooring use
carrick bitt
vsriding bitt
  • Archaic
9.9

One of two strong posts on a ship deck that hold the anchor chain

is used to hold an anchor cable rather than to support a windlass

Surface Forms

riding bitt singular
riding bitts plural

Morphology

ride + bitt

The phrase is compositionally built from 'riding' (carrying/supporting) and 'bitt' (a stout post for mooring), so its meaning — a bitt that carries or secures a cable — is directly inferable. Although nautical and specialized, the modifier+noun structure is transparent and a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to deduce the sense.

Etymology

Riding bitt comes from old ships and names the big, strong post on the deck where sailors wrapped the anchor cable around a bitt so the ship could ride at anchor. Because this post held the heavy cable and kept the ship steady, the term now means 'the post used to secure the anchor cable'.