noun a hawse hole.
2. hawse ·noun that part of a vessel's bow in which are the hawse holes for the cables.
3. hawse ·noun the situation of the cables when a vessel is moored with two anchors, one on the starboard, the other on the port bow.
4. hawse ·noun the distance ahead to which the cables usually extend; as, the ship has a clear or open hawse, or a foul hawse; to anchor in our hawse, or athwart hawse.