clew up

verb

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

Example Sentences

Presently it is “Clew up,” and soon after, “All hands over the side.”

From Project Gutenberg

"Clew up and clew down," was now the order.

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg

Just where the Strait debouches into the China Sea, we descried, in the midst of a rain-squall, to which we were both obliged to clew up our top-gallant sails, a tall clipper ship, evidently American.

From Project Gutenberg

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