unbittv.
transitive. To uncoil or unfasten (a cable) from the bitts. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor [verb (intransitive)] > anchor > unfasten cable
unbitt1769
society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor (a ship) [verb (transitive)] > anchor (a ship) > unfasten (cable)
unbitt1769
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Unbitting, the operation of removing the turns of a cable from off the bits.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Transl. French Terms at Débitter le cable To unbit the cable.
1860 H. Stuart Novice's or Young Seaman's Catech. (rev. ed.) 54 It is used for stoppering the cable, when bitting or unbitting.
1883 Man. Seamanship for Boys' Training Ships Royal Navy 189 A..Blake's stopper..is used for stoppering the cable to bitt or unbitt it.
Derivatives
unˈbitted adj.1
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > [adjective] > loose, unfastened, or untied > loosened, unfastened, or untied > able to be > unfastened from the bitts
unbitted1864
1864 Daily Tel. 25 Feb. In what particular the public money is running through Admiralty hawse-pipes like an unbitted cable.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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