hawse
noun
ˈhȯz 
1
a
: the part of a ship's bow that contains the hawseholes
b
: hawsehole
2
: the distance between a ship's bow and her anchor
Word History
Etymology
alteration of Middle English halse, from Old Norse hals neck, hawse; akin to Old English heals, neck — more at collar
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a