[ klu: ]
■ noun
1》 the lower or after corner of a sail.
2》 ( ~s ) Nautical the cords by which a hammock is suspended.
3》 archaic a ball of thread.
4》 archaic variant of clue .
■ verb ( ~ a sail up/down ) draw a sail up or let it down by the ~s when furling or unfurling.
Origin
OE cliwen , cleowen (denoting a rounded mass, also a ball of thread), of Gmc origin; cf. clue .