clew up

British  

verb

1. (adverb) nautical to furl (a square sail) by gathering its clews up to the yard by means of clew lines

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Example Sentences

Immediately afterward, with her crew standing by to clew up the foretopsails, the backstays part and the We're Here's mainmast goes overside, carrying with it Manuel in a tangle of canvas, cable and running gear.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was not until we had approached him near enough to send a shot whizzing across his bow, that he consented to clew up, and heave to.

From Memoirs of Service Afloat, During the War Between the States by Semmes, Raphael

The first thing we did was to clew up the three top-gallant-sails.

From Miles Wallingford Sequel to "Afloat and Ashore" by Cooper, James Fenimore

We must not, however, allow the ship to run further to leeward than we can help; so clew up the foresail, lads; we will let her scud under bare poles until daylight.

From Dick Leslie's Luck A Story of Shipwreck and Adventure by Piffard, Harold

I began to edge away therefore, and in two or three hours enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing our pursuer clew up and furl his sails.

From The Narrative of a Blockade-Runner by Wilkinson, John