Reef knot

Reef knot

Knot-details


name=Reef knot
names=Square knot (from its appearance)
type=binding
origin=Ancient
related=Thief knot, granny knot, grief knot
releasing=Jamming
strength=48%
caveat=Not secure as a bend. Spills easily if one of the free ends is pulled outward. Does not hold well if the two lines are not the same thickness.
uses=Joining two ends of a single line to bind around an object.
abok_number= #1402The reef knot or square knot is a common and simple binding knot.

Tying a reef knot

To tie a reef knot, tie a left-handed overhand knot and then a right-handed overhand knot or vice versa. (Two consecutive overhands of the same handedness will make a granny knot.) A common mnemonic for this procedure is "right over left, left over right", which is often appended with the rhyming suffix "... makes a knot both tidy and tight".

The working ends of the reef knot must be "cis" (that is, both at the top or both at the bottom); the other lines lead to the full rope. Otherwise, a thief knot results. (The "cis" and "trans" terms are derived from terminology used to describe geometric isomerism.)

Uses

Used to tie two ends of a single line together such that they will secure something that is unlikely to move much. It lies flat when tied with cloth, and has been used for bandages for millennia. It's also one of the most common knots used in surgery. With both ends tucked (slipped) it becomes a good way to tie shoelaces, whilst the non-slipped version is useful for shoelaces that are excessively short. It is also used decoratively and to tie the Obi (or belt) of a martial arts keikogi. Finally, it is quite handy for tying plastic garbage or trash bags, as the knot forms a handle when tied in two twisted "ears".

This knot's name originates from its use to "reef" sails (tie part down to decrease effective surface area), where its easy-spilling behavior was very handy. A sailor could collapse it with a pull of one hand; the sail's weight would make the collapsed knot come apart.

The reef knot is one of the key knots of macrame textiles.

Misuse

The reef knot's ease of tying and visually appealing symmetry belie its weakness. It is popular as a general-purpose binding knot. In particular, it figures prominently in Scouting worldwide: each Scout is said to know the square knot, and it is pictured in the international membership badge.

The International Guild of Knot Tyers warns that this knot should never be used to bend two ropes together. A proper bend (such as the double fisherman's knot) should be used instead. Some knotting guides claim that misused reef knots cause more deaths and injuries than all other knots combined. [Cassidy 1985, "The Klutz Book of Knots"]

See also

* List of knots
* Square knot (emblem or insignia)

References

* Ashley's Book of Knots ISBN 0-385-04025-3

External references

* [http://www.animatedknots.com/reef/ Grog's Animated Knots: How to tie the reef knot]
* [http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/reefknot.htm Ian's Shoelace Site: Reef Knot]
* [http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/knotindex.html Notable Knot Index]
* [http://www.igkt.net/beginners/sea-cadet-knots.html IGKT Sea Cadet Knots]
* [http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/reefknot.html The Reef Knot Family]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Reef knot — Reef Reef, n. [Akin to D. reef, G. reff, Sw. ref; cf. Icel. rif reef, rifa to basten together. Cf. {Reeve}, v. t., {River}.] (Naut.) That part of a sail which is taken in or let out by means of the reef points, in order to adapt the size of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • reef knot — n especially BrE a double knot that cannot come undone easily American Equivalent: square knot …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • reef knot — reef ,knot noun count a type of knot that is difficult to untie …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • reef knot — reef′ knot n. naut. navig. a square knot used for reefing sails Etymology: 1835–45 …   From formal English to slang

  • reef knot — ► NOUN ▪ a double knot made symmetrically to hold securely and cast off easily …   English terms dictionary

  • reef knot — n. a square knot used for reefing sails …   English World dictionary

  • reef knot — noun a square knot used in a reef line • Syn: ↑flat knot • Hypernyms: ↑square knot • Hyponyms: ↑granny knot, ↑granny * * * noun : a square knot used in tying reef points …   Useful english dictionary

  • reef-knot — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ transitive verb : to make a reef knot in * * * reef knot, = square knot. (Cf. ↑square knot) reef knot «REEF NOT», transitive verb, knot|ted, knot|ting …   Useful english dictionary

  • reef knot — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms reef knot : singular reef knot plural reef knots British a type of knot that is difficult to untie …   English dictionary

  • reef knot — noun A square knot used to securely tie two pieces of rope together, or to reef sails Syn: square knot …   Wiktionary

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