water knot
English
a water knot
Etymology
Uncertain, apparently water + knot. Attested from at least the 18th century.
Noun
water knot (plural water knots)
- A type of bend knot used to join the ends of lines or flat material such as tubular webbing.
- Synonyms: ring bend, grass knot, tape knot
- 1775 [1653], Izaak Walton, John Hawkins, editor, The Complete Angler, compilation of Walton’s original and Charles Cotton’s second part of The Compleat Angler, page 255:
- To tie a water-knot, lay the end of one of your hairs about five inches or less, over that of the other, and through the loop, which you would make to time them in a common way, pass the long and short end of the hairs, which will lie to the right of the loop, twice, and wetting the knot with your tongue, draw it close, and cut off the spare hair.
- An alternative name for the fisherman's knot, or fisherman's loop
Usage notes
Commonly employed by mountaineers to create a sling seat, but not considered to be as safe as the beer knot.
References
• The Ashley Book of Knots →ISBN -- Knot 1414 (gloss 2)