GLOSSARY OF ROPE TERMINOLOGY

Sea Anchor
Cone shaped, made of canvas, open at one end or both ends. Equipped with a tow-line at the large end and a tripping line at the other. Designed to keep the bow of the life raft heading into the seas.

Seine Twine
A small diameter twine either brai9ded or twisted most commonly of nylon; used in making fish nets, net repairs, fishing line, chalk line, duck decoy, anchor lines and many other utility uses.

Seize
To lash or bind ropes together.

Self-Locking Carabiner
A carabiner with a locking device which is spring loaded and prevents the gate from opening accidentally.

Set
To close or tighten a knot.

Shackle
A small U-shaped fitting often used to join the thimble in an eye splice to the fitting. The open end is connected by a screw pin. (A snap shackle has a spring loaded pin).

Sheath
The protective braid around the core of a rope. Also referred to as the skin.

Sheave
A grooved wheel or roller in a block or pulley over which the rope passes.

Short Splice
Method for joining rope, end to end, when maximum strength is desired when an increase in diameter is acceptable and/or when only a small amount of rope can be spared for making a splice.

Shock Cord
An elastic cord used for tie down purposes, snubbing gear, etc. Made of elastic rubber core with a braided synthetic fiber jacket.

S.I.M.A. Extrusion Technology
The most advanced technological solution in the field of fibrillated and non-fibrillated PP and HDPE tapes production, designed for the fabrication of twisted rope, fishing nets, insulated cables, baler twine, binder twine and other industrial applications.

Single Braid
A cylindrical braid which is formed by rotating half the yarn strands in one direction on the braider, while the other half rotate in the opposite direction. These cords do not have yarn in the core, and may also be referred to as hollow braid.

Sisal
The fiber of the Agave Sisalana used for making cordage and rope. May also refer to the Henequin or Agave Fourcroydes, a plant native to Yucatan, Mexico. It is also found in Central America, West Indies and Africa.

Skein
A continuous length of yarn or cord of any desired length, in the form of a collapsible coil.

Ski Tow Rope (Water)
Usually a small diameter hollow braid polypropylene rope used for pulling water skiers behind motor boats.

Ski Tow Rope (Snow)
Usually a three strand twisted rope of various synthetic fibers attached to a motor, this rope pulls skiers uphill.

Slip
To use a loop (bight) of rope instead of the end when closing a knot to make untying the knot easy.

Sliver
A continuous strand of parallel overlapping natural fibers (manila, cotton, sisal, jute, etc.) ready for twisting.

Snatch Block
A single sheave block with a hinged strap that can be opened and the bight of a line inserted.

Solid Braid
A construction of 9, 12 or 18 strands of fiber, lock-stitched together. It has a smooth, round, firm contour which holds its shape well under pressure and load. It is excellent in pulleys and winches and whenever a firm round rope is needed. It is not as strong as other braids nor is it as spliceable. This is also referred to as Sash Braid

Spar
In general, any mast, yard, pole or boom.

Spectra®
One of the trade names for UHMWPE fiber.

Spinnaker
A light, very large three cornered sail set flying forward of all fore stays. Used on racing yachts when running the wind.

Splice
To join two ropes by inter-weaving strands or braids.

Spring Lay
A rope in which each strand consists partly if wire and partly of fiber. It is composed of six main strands laid around a fiber core. It will show fish hooks after it has been stressed.

Spun
A fiber that has been texturized by spinning before it is twisted into yarn, giving it a woolly texture, similar to cotton. It is common in nylon, polyester and Dacron™.

Spun Fiber
A yarn which consists of both regular and irregular staple lengths that have been joined together by twist. These fibers braid into ropes with good handling characteristics.

Standing Part
The main part of the rope not in the knot itself, the rope not being tied is the standing part.

Standing Rigging
All lines and gear used to support the masts.

Starter Cord
A strong abrasion resistant braided cord usually of nylon; used for hand-wound gasoline engine starters and other utility purposes.

Static Rope
A rope which has a maximum elongation of 6% at 10% of its minimum breaking strength

Stern Line
Runs through the stern chock to control forward movement and assists the breast lines. Aft Spring.

Stopper Knot
Used to stop the rope from pulling through a cleat, hole or pulley.

Strand
Yarns twisted together form a strand. Strands twisted or plaited together form a rope.

Stringing Line
A line used for extending a wire or cable

Synthetic Fiber
Any non-organic fiber used in rope or cordage manufacture.