clue

{ } n. [ OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, knäuel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw. √26. Cf. Knawel. ] 1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself. [ 1913 Webster ]

Untwisting his deceitful clew. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a mystery. [ 1913 Webster ]

The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) (a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore-and-aft sail. (b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is suspended. [ 1913 Webster ]

Clew garnet (Naut.), one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards. --
Clew line (Naut.), a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its yard. --
Clew-line block (Naut.), The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust. of Block. [ 1913 Webster ]