Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Bitts"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Bitts \Bitts\, n. pl. [Cf. F. bitte, Icel. biti, a beam. ?87.]
(Naut.)
A frame of two strong timbers fixed perpendicularly in the
fore part of a ship, on which to fasten the cables as the
ship rides at anchor, or in warping. Other bitts are used for
belaying (belaying bitts), for sustaining the windlass
(carrick bitts, winch bitts, or windlass bitts), to hold the
pawls of the windlass (pawl bitts) etc.
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