[clew] n [ME clewe, fr. OE cliewen; akin to OHG kliuwa ball, Skt glau lump] (bef. 12c) 1: a ball of thread, yarn, or cord
2: clue 3 a: a lower corner or only the after corner of a sail b: a metal loop attached to the lower corner of a sail c pl: a combination of lines by which a hammock is suspended
[2]clew vt (15c) 1: to roll into a ball
2: clue
3: to haul (a sail) up or down by ropes through the clews