dead-eyen.
/ˈdɛdʌɪ/, U.S. /ˈdɛdˌaɪ/ 1. Nautical. A round laterally flattened wooden block, pierced with three holes through which a lanyard is reeved, used for extending the shrouds. Also applied to the triangular blocks with one large hole, usually called hearts (heart n. 29), similarly used for extending the stays. (Cf. dead man's eye(s n.)
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > masts, rigging, or sails > rigging > [noun] > fixed rigging > rigging supporting mast laterally > block with holes for extending stays or shrouds
dead man's eye1466
ram-block1611
dead-eye1748
heart1769
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. viii. 78 The main topsail split, and one of the straps of the main dead-eyes broke.
1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage xxviii. 398 The dead eyes were preparing for the mainmast.
1891 Times 14 Oct. 6/5 The William Bateman has lost her main yard, and several of her chain plates and dead eyes are broken.
2. crowfoot dead-eye = euphroe n.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > tackle or purchase > [noun] > group of small cords through block
yuffrouw1494
crowfoot1627
crow's foot1627
crowfoot dead-eye1769
euphroe1815
centipede1857
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Dead-Eye, a..round, flattish, wooden block..usually encircled with the end of a rope..and pierced with three holes..employed..to extend the shrouds and stays.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. (at cited word) The crowfeet dead-eyes are long cylindrical blocks with a number of small holes in them, to receive the legs or lines composing the crowfoot.
3. (See quot.)
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1874 E. H. Knight Dict. Mech. Dead-eye, the eye-bolt or staple on the gunwale of a canal-boat to which the towing-line is bent.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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n.1748