n.1 the part of a ship's bows in which hawse-holes or hawse-pipes are placed.
2 the space between the head of an anchored vessel and the anchors.
3 the arrangement of cables when a ship is moored with port and starboard forward anchors.
Phrases and idioms:
hawse-hole a hole in the side of a ship through which a cable or anchor-rope passes. hawse-pipe a metal pipe lining a hawse-hole.
Etymology: ME halse, prob. f. ON h{aacute}ls neck, ship's bow