GLOSSARY OF ROPE TERMINOLOGY

Jib
Triangular sail set in forepart of vessel.

Jute
A natural fiber obtained from either two Asian plants, Corchorus Capsulans of Corchorus Olitorius; used in sacking and cordage.

Karabiner
An oval, pear or D-shaped piece of aluminum, steel or titanium stock that has a spring loaded gate which allows rapid attachment to the rope or other gear. Also referred to as Carabiner.

Kern
The core of a rope.

Kernmantle
A rope manufactured by braiding a cover (mantle) over a core (kern). The core may consist of either individual yarn strands that lay parallel to each other, or it may be made up of twisted or braided strands of fiber laying parallel to each other. A specially designed rope for use in mountain climbing, rescue, repelling, and certain safety applications. It is a generic term of German derivation where mantle refers to the cover and kern the core. These rope are designed for specific uses and should be used only after proper training.

Kink
A very sharp bend in a rope caused by contact over a sharp edge or pulling out of a coiled form. The kink may result in a permanent deformation of the rope, and loss of its strength. A kink may lead to the forming of a hockle.

Kevlar®
An aramid fiber developed by DuPont that is characterized by high strength and excellent heat resistance.
Kilonewton (kN) 224.8 pounds of force.

Laid Rope
A rope manufactured by twisting 3 or more strands together using a twist direction that is opposite to that of the strands.

Laid Up
Twisted.

Lanyard
A safety line, typically 4-6 feet in length with snap hooks at each end.

Lariat
A specially constructed rope with a running noose for catching livestock; a lasso. Also a rope used for picketing grazing horses or mules.

Lay
The way a twisted rope is constructed. Lay is either right hand or left hand. Also the amount of twist that changes the hardness of the rope. Soft, medium or hard lay.

Lay Length
The actual distance required to make one complete revolution around the axis in any element in a strand, cord or rope.

Lead Line
Sinking line used in fishing for lower line holding down nets or traps. May have a lead filament or core that would make the rope sink; also called bottom line.

Leaving Line
A barge mooring line used primarily to tie up unattended barges. A random mix rope is generally used for this purpose.

Left-Handed Twist
An "s" twist or a twist that would be laid out in a counterclockwise direction.

Life Line
An anchored line used as a support to someone who may fall or drown; a line shot to a ship in distress either to connect it with the shore or for hauling aboard other life-saving devices; lines rigged to keep the crew aboard in bad weather.

Life Safety Rope
A rope which has been manufactured to support and protect a human life. These ropes must meet an industry or government standard for minimum performance.

Life Ring
When an individual is sighted in the water, a ring should be thrown as close to them as possible to provide flotation and make them easier to sight.

Lift
The line rigged from the mast which holds the outboard end of the bosom or spinnaker pole in a desired horizontal position.

Line
A piece of rope, either fiber or wire, which is in use or has been cut for a specific purpose, such as lifeline, heaving line or lead line.

Linear Density
In rope specifications, means weight per given unit of length; for example pounds per 100 feet.

Locking Carabiner
A carabiner with a locking device which prevents the gate from opening accidentally.

Lock Lines
A line led from the bow and stern of a tow to the lock wall.

Lofted
A cordage material is lofted if it is made to yield more feet and diameter per pound by crimping the fibers and/or loosening the twist or weave to give more bulk per unit of weight.

Long Splice
A method for joining end to end a three stranded rope without increasing the diameter of the rope. Not as strong as a short splice, but essential in splicing rope that must be used in a pulley where rope diameter cannot be changed.

Loop
Also called a turn; a circle of rope in which the rope crosses over itself, i.e. the end is placed over the standing part.

Luff
The forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail.

Mainsheet
A rope by which the mainsail is trimmed and secured.

Manila
A vegetable fiber produced from the trunk of the tropical plant Musa testilis (abaca tree), which is a member of the banana plant family. Manila is the strongest of all the natural rope bers. Also known as Abaca or manila hemp