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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Clue \Clue\ (kl[=u]), n. [See {Clew}, n.]
A ball of thread; a thread or other means of guidance. Same
as {Clew}.
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You have wound a goodly clue. --Shak.
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This clue once found unravels all the rest. --Pope.
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Serve as clues to guide us into further knowledge.
--Locke.
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Clew \Clew\ (kl[=u]), Clue \Clue\, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue,
AS. cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen,
OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn[aum]uel, and perch.
to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor.
Perch. akin to E. claw. [root]26. Cf. {Knawel}.]
1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself.
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Untwisting his deceitful clew. --Spenser.
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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.
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The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the
vast and intricate maze of countinental politics,
was in his hands. --Macaulay.
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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.
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{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}.
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