Catharpins

1342-3.

E. 122/176/3 |Batail| j. Bataill cum gubernaculo xxij. virouns j. mast cum iiijor hawebaunkes j. stay j. vpty j. virg' j. Sigle ij. Scoutes ij. minut' cord' pro virg' v. minut' cord' voc' Harpeners' j. castell' apud Mast' …

[. . . 5 small ropes called Harpeners,. . .]

[PRO: Custom Accounts: Particulars of the Account of Hugo de Berewyk and william de Newenham concerning the arrest of two ships called Tarite] in Bertil Sandahl: Middle English Sea Trems. Vol. III. Standing and Running Rigging. Upsala Universitet, Upsala, 1982. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, Studia Anglistica Upsaliensia 42.

1623

Henry Mainwaring: A breife Abstract, Exposition, and Demonstration, of all Termes, Parts, z Things belonging to a Shippe, and the Practicke of NAVIGATION: Catherpings: Are small Roapes wch run in litle Blocks like a Minnom; from one side of the Shrowdes to the other, neere the Vpper Deck: The Vse whereof is to for ce ye Shrowdes tawghter, for the better ease z safety of the Mast in the Rowling of ye Ship: They are only vsed to the Maine Shrowdes z fore Shrowdes: also at the Setting on of the Puttocks of the Shrowdes they are vsed; but here they are ever made fast, and doenot run in Blocks.

1750

T.R. Blankely: A Naval Expositor: Catharpings: Are small Rops running in little Blocks from one Side of the Shrouds to the other, near the Deck; their Use is to force the Shrouds taught, for the Ease and Safety of the Masts when the Ship rowls; they are also used at the upper Part of the Shrouds, but there, worn Rope, from three and an half, to two and an half Inches is used, and do not run through Blocks, but has several turns taken in them, and are made fast.

1780

William Falconer: An Universal Dictionary of the Marine: Harpins, the fore-parts of the wales, which encompass the bow of a ship, and are fastened to the stem, being thicker than the after part of the wales, in order to reinforce the ship at this place, where she sustains the greatest shock of resistance in plunging into the sea, or dividing it, under a great pressure of sail.

1819:

Darcy Lever: The Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor: Short legs of rope seized to the upper part of the lower shrouds and futtock staves to keep them from bulging out by the strain of the futtock shrouds and to permit the bracing up of the lower yards.

Copyright © 1996 Lars Bruzelius.