/hawz, haws/ , n. , v. , hawsed, hawsing . Naut.
n.
1. the part of a bow where the hawseholes are located.
2. a hawsehole or hawsepipe.
3. the distance or space between the bow of an anchored vessel and the point on the surface of the water above the anchor.
4. the relative position or arrangement of the port and starboard anchor cables when both are used to moor a vessel.
5. to hawse , with both bow anchors out: a ship riding to hawse.
v.i.
6. (of a vessel) to pitch heavily at anchor.
[ bef. 1000; ME hals, OE heals bow of a ship, lit., neck; c. ON hals in same senses, OFris, OS, OHG hals neck, throat, L collus ( kolsos ) ]