headfastn.
/ˈhɛdfɑːst/, /ˈhɛdfast/, U.S. /ˈhɛdˌfæst/ Nautical. Now historical and rare.
A rope or chain used to secure the bow of a ship or other vessel to a wharf, buoy, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > for securing vessel > at bow
headfast1569
bow-fast1822
headline1830
1569 J. Hawkins True Declar. Troublesome Voy. sig. B.iiiv So leesinge hyr hedfastes, and haylinge awaye by the stearne fastes she was gotten out.
1635 L. Foxe North-west Fox 107 They cut the head-fest from the sterne of their ship.
1724 D. Defoe Tour Great Brit. I. i. 98 The Ships ride here..with their Head-fasts on Shore.
1857 P. M. Colquhoun Compan. Oarsman's Guide 31 The painter is the rope attached to the stem to make fast by, and is otherwise called the headfast.
1876 T. Hardy Hand of Ethelberta II. xlv. 223 A strong pull from a headfast rope might drag the erection completely over.
1906 J. Conrad Mirror of Sea xxxv. 203 Two or three ‘finished’ ships floated low, with an air of straining at the leash of their level headfasts.
2000 J. Nelson All Brave Fellows (2005) x. 152 Foote tossed off the head-fast and the bow began to swing away from the wharf.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† headfastv.
Obsolete. rare.
transitive to secure (a vessel) with a headfast (headfast n.).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor (a ship) [verb (transitive)] > moor
moor1378
breast1838
headfast1889
to tie up1893
1889 Daily News 9 Nov. 6/4 The point in the river at which the barge may be headfasted.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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