ˈhȯz also -ȯs noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English halse, from Old Norse hals neck, part of the bow of a ship — more at collar
1.
a. : hawsehole
b. : the part of a ship's bow that contains the hawseholes
2. : the position or arrangement of the anchor cables of a ship when both a port and starboard anchor are used — see foul , hawse , open hawse
3. : the distance or the space between a ship's bows and her anchor : the space spanned by the anchor cables
the small boat anchored in the large ship's hawse