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deadeye
deadeye, orig. dead-man's-eye, a circular block, usually of lignum vitae, though sometimes of elm, grooved around the circumference and pierced with three holes. In the days of the square-rigger they were used in pairs to secure the end of a shroud to the chain-plate. A lanyard was threaded through the holes in the deadeyes and by this means a purchase was created to set up the shroud taut.
The term ‘dead’ was used because, although deadeyes performed the function of triple blocks, they had no revolving sheaves. No doubt the original name of dead-man's-eye arose from the remarkable resemblance of these blocks with their three holes to a human skull. |
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Cite this article
"deadeye." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "deadeye." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-deadeye.html "deadeye." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-deadeye.html |
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deadeye
dead·eye / ˈdedˌī/ • n. 1. Sailing a circular wooden block with a groove around the circumference to take a lanyard, used singly or in pairs to tighten a shroud. 2. inf. an expert marksman. |
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"deadeye." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "deadeye." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-deadeye.html "deadeye." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-deadeye.html |
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deadeye
deadeye n.
1. a circular wooden block with a groove around the circumference to take a lanyard, used singly or in pairs to tighten a shroud. 2. informal an expert marksman. |
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Cite this article
"deadeye." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "deadeye." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-deadeye.html "deadeye." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-deadeye.html |
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deadeye
deadeye
•deadeye, red-eye
•Sendai • solidi
•nidi, tie-dye
•eisteddfodau • Bondi • fundi
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Cite this article
"deadeye." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "deadeye." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-deadeye.html "deadeye." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-deadeye.html |
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