Hawsehole is a nautical term for a small hole in the

hull Hull may refer to: Structures * Chassis, of an armored fighting vehicle * Fuselage, of an aircraft * Hull (botany), the outer covering of seeds * Hull (watercraft), the body or frame of a ship * Submarine hull Mathematics * Affine hull, in affi ...

of a ship through which ''

hawser Hawser () is a nautical term for a thick cable or rope used in mooring or towing a ship. A hawser passes through a hawsehole, also known as a cat hole, located on the hawse. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, third editi ...

s'' may be passed. It is also known as a cat hole. In the (British)

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...

, a man who had risen from the lowest grade to officer was said to have "come in at the hawsehole".

References

{{Sailing ship elements Shipbuilding Sailboat components Sailing ship components Nautical terminology

See also

References