hawser

[ haw-zer, -ser ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. a heavy rope for mooring or towing.

hawser

/ ˈhɔːzə /

noun

1. nautical a large heavy rope

Word History and Origins

Origin of hawser¹

1300–50; Middle English haucer < Anglo-French hauceour, equivalent to Middle French hauci ( er ) to hoist (< Late Latin *altiāre to raise, derivative of Latin altus high; haughty ) + -our -or ², -er ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of hawser¹

C14: from Anglo-French hauceour , from Old French haucier to hoist, ultimately from Latin altus high

Example Sentences

Bollards were first used in a maritime setting, where they were immovable objects to which a ship could safely lash its hawser after docking.

From Washington Post

Falling to the floor behind her was a braid as thick as a hawser.

From New York Times

Very strong steel hawsers with hooks on the ends of them were lowered from the front and rear of each helicopter.

From Literature

He saved nearly 40 lives by diving into the churning seas with a rope, then used it to pull a thick hawser taut between the yacht and the beach as a lifeline for survivors.

From The Guardian

She found him in his shorts, lying in the hammock that he had hung from the beams with a ship's hawser.

From Literature

Related Words

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• strand
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