The cow hitch, also called the lark's head, is a hitch

knot A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches, bends, loop knots, and splices: a ''hitch'' fastens a rope to another object; a ...

used to attach a rope to an object. The cow hitch comprises a pair of half-hitches tied in opposing directions, as compared to the

clove hitch The clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most important knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing kno ...

in which the half-hitches are tied in the same direction. It has several variations and is known under a variety of names. It can be tied either with the end of the rope or with a bight.

History

A simple and useful knotted structure, the cow hitch has been known since at least the first century when described by Greek physician

Heraklas Heraklas ( grc-gre, Ἡρακλᾶς) was a Greek physician of the 1st century AD whose descriptions of surgeons' knots and slings are preserved in book 48 of Oribasius' ''Medical Collections'' (Ἰατρικαὶ Συναγωγαί, ''Iatrikai ...

in a

monograph A monograph is a specialist work of writing (in contrast to reference works) or exhibition on a single subject or an aspect of a subject, often by a single author or artist, and usually on a scholarly subject. In library cataloging, ''monogra ...

on surgical knots and slings. Known under a variety of names, this knot has been used both on land and at sea. The common alternate name "lark's head" is attributed to Tom Bowling (pseudonym) in the 1866 work ''The Book of Knots'' which is presumed to have been adapted from a French manuscript; lark's head is a literal translation of the French name for the knot, ''tête d'alouette''.Ahsley, p. 11.

Variations

The underlying cow hitch structure can be formed and used in a variety of ways. These variations are differentiated by method used to form the knot and the way in which it is loaded.Ashley, p. 290. In particular, the knot can be formed with an end of the rope, in a closed loop or strap, or a combination of these two in which it is tied with the end and then formed into a loop by securing the free end to the standing part. Although certain names tend to be historically associated with a particular variations, real-world naming is not necessarily consistent between various users and applications.

With the end

When tied using the end of a rope, such as when securing an animal's

lead Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cut, ...

to a vertical post or stake, this knot was said to be more resistant to loosening than the clove hitch as the animal wanders around the post.Ashley, p. 44. In general, however, this single-ended form of the cow hitch is less stable compared to the variations in which both ends are loaded.

In a closed loop or strap

This form is commonly known as a strap hitch or girth hitch, the latter term being common among climbers. It is the method commonly used to attach

luggage tags Bag tags, also known as baggage tags, baggage checks or luggage tickets, have traditionally been used by bus, train, and airline carriers to route checked luggage to its final destination. The passenger stub is typically handed to the passenger ...

which have a pre-tied loop of string or elastic. This form is also often used to connect loop-ended

lanyard A lanyard is a cord, length of webbing, or strap that may serve any of various functions, which include a means of attachment, restraint, retrieval, and activation and deactivation. A lanyard is also a piece of rigging used to secure or lo ...

s to handheld electronic equipment, since it can be tied without access to the ends of the fastening loop.

With the end, then secured into a loop

When tied by threading the end and then the end is secured to the standing part, the knot is known as a

bale sling hitch The bale sling hitch (or strap hitch) is a knot which traditionally uses a continuous loop of strap to form a cow hitch around an object in order to hoist or lower it. In practice, a similar arrangement can also be formed using a fixed loop at t ...

. File:Cowhitch in loop.png, Made with a closed loop File:Smyga, Nordisk familjebok.png, Shown being used to hoist a

barrel A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers for liquids, ...

, and (left) for tying a lead to a sounding line File:Ankertonne.jpg, Made with an eye splice around a ring File:Bale sling hitch knot.png, Made with end and then secured to standing part File:ZipperCowHitch.jpg, Cow hitch at

Zipper A zipper, zip, fly, or zip fastener, formerly known as a clasp locker, is a commonly used device for binding together two edges of fabric or other flexible material. Used in clothing (e.g. jackets and jeans), luggage and other bags, camping ...

Applications

Tatting

The craft of

tatting Tatting is a technique for handcrafting a particularly durable lace from a series of knots and loops. Tatting can be used to make lace edging as well as doilies, collars, accessories such as earrings and necklaces, and other decorative pieces. ...

is composed primarily of lark's head knots over carrier threads. A lark's head is called a double stitch in tatting.

Friendship bracelets

In the context of

friendship bracelets A friendship bracelet is a decorative bracelet given by one person to another as a symbol of friendship. Friendship bracelets are often handmade, usually of embroidery floss or thread and are a type of macramé. There are various styles and pat ...

, the lark's head is called the reverse knot or the forward backward knot or the backward forward knot if the author is being directionally specific for instructional purposes.

Cableman's hitch

Another application for the cow hitch is in the handling of large electric

power cable A power cable is an electrical cable, an assembly of one or more electrical conductors, usually held together with an overall sheath. The assembly is used for transmission of electrical power. Power cables may be installed as permanent wiring w ...

surface mine Surface mining, including strip mining, open-pit mining and mountaintop removal mining, is a broad category of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit (the overburden) are removed, in contrast to underground mining, in whic ...

s. Known colloquially as a "Cableman's hitch", it is also used to attach loops of cable to the back of a pick-up truck during a shovel move. As the cable can weigh upwards of 22 pounds per foot and 3–4 loops of cable can be attached to one length of rope, a clove hitch's shearing force would damage the cable jacket. The Cableman's hitch puts the strain onto the hitch crossing over the two running ends of the rope.

Products that use cow hitch knots

* The Nintendo Wiimote, for securing the strap to the Wiimote * Some Mobile phones accessory use this knot to secure themselves to the phones * Textile/

Rubber Bands A rubber band (also known as an elastic band, gum band or lacky band) is a loop of rubber, usually ring or oval shaped, and commonly used to hold multiple objects together. The rubber band was patented in England on March 17, 1845 by Stephen P ...

attached to the Zip Pullers is usually tied with Cow Hitch, usually to reduce the size of the Puller.

References

{{Knots