What does hawser mean?
A hawser is a thick, strong rope or cable used chiefly in maritime work. It may connect a ship to a tugboat, link a vessel to a buoy or dock, or fasten a ship to an anchor. The word is especially natural in accounts of towing, docking, anchoring, and heavy mooring operations, where several distinct lines may need to be described. A hawser is stronger and heavier than an ordinary rope, and unlike a hose, it is a solid line rather than a tube through which water, fuel, or another fluid passes. Although the word can occasionally be used more broadly for heavy rope or cable, its characteristic sense remains nautical. It is useful vocabulary for reading maritime reports, historical narratives, nautical instructions, and descriptions of vessels being moved or secured.
nounA thick rope or cable used for towing a ship or other vessel, mooring it to a fixed point, or securing it to an anchor. The term is especially associated with maritime work and large-scale towing and mooring operations.
- A thick, strong rope or cable used for towing, mooring, or securing a ship or other vessel.
"The tugboat took the hawser aboard and began towing the disabled vessel toward the harbour."
"The dockhands passed the hawser to the crew on the quay."
"A second hawser was needed to secure the barge during the storm."
The regular plural is hawsers, most often used when referring to several ropes or cables used for towing or mooring.
"The workers coiled the hawsers neatly on the deck before the ship departed."
A hawser may look like an ordinary rope, but it is the heavy-duty line that can hold a ship fast in rough conditions.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hawser come from?
Hawser entered Middle English from an Anglo-Norman French maritime term. The English word developed in the context of towing, mooring, and heavy nautical equipment, and its pronunciation remained relatively stable while the meaning became closely associated with vessels and harbours. The word belongs to a wider group of European terms connected with hauling, lifting, or raising, including hoist.
How hawser is actually used
Hawser is chiefly a maritime and towing term. In general nautical use, it often means a heavy mooring rope, while in towing operations it specifically refers to the towing line attached to the vessel being moved.
Easily confused with hawser
A hawser is a heavy rope or cable used for towing, mooring, or securing a vessel, whereas a hose is a flexible tube that carries a liquid or gas.