English Explanatory Dictionary

bitts

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A frame composed of two strong oak timbers (bitt-heads) fixed vertically in the fore part of a ship, bolted to the deck beams to which are secured the cables when the ship rides to anchor

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-bitts.wav

Word forms

bitts

Etymology

From Middle English, probably of Low German or North Germanic origin, and the English form a corruption or contraction, from Old Norse biti, probably ultimately from a variant of Proto-Germanic *bitiz. Compare Swedish beting and Danish beding.

Derived words

bitter bitter end bitt-heads bitt-pins bitt-stopper bitt the cable carrick-bitts fore-brace bitts gallows-bitts jear-bitts paul-bitts pawl-bitts riding-bitts topsail-sheet bitts winch-bitts windlass-bitts
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