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To bind together, as two ropes, with cross turns of yarn, marline, etc. To rack one's brains or wits, to exert them to the utmost for the purpose of accomplishing something.

Spun yarn used in racking ropes.

Yarns coiled on a spun-yarn winch.

A lay or skein containing 120 yards of yarn. Knight.

A frame with radial arms, or a kind of spool, turning on an axis, on which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound; as, a log reel, used by seamen; an angler's reel; a garden reel.

gnation or official sentence, as when a soldier is drummed out of a regiment. -- Rogue's yarn, yarn of a different twist and color from the rest, inserted into the cordage of the British navy, to identify it if stolen, or for the purpose of tracing the maker in case of defect. Different makers are required to use yarn…

A small piece of spun yarn or marline, used to fasten the head of the sail to the spar. [Written also roband, and robbin.]

Small rope, or strands of rope, or spun yarn, wound round a rope to keep it from chafing; -- called also service.

Saxony yarn, or flannel made of it or similar yarn.

A silk yarn or fabric made out of carded spun silk.

To bind or fasten together with a lashing of small stuff, as yarn or marline; as, to seize ropes.

A skein or hank of rope yarns wound round with yarns or marline, -- used for stoppers, straps, etc.

A braided cord or fabric formed by plaiting together rope yarns or other small stuff.

To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See under Serving. To serve an attachment or a writ of attachment (Law), to levy it on the person or goods by seizure, or to seize. -- To serve an execution (Law), to levy it on a lands, goods,…

The materials used for serving a rope, etc., as spun yarn, small lines, etc.

A quantity of yarn, thread, or the like, put up together, after it is taken from the reel, -- usually tied in a sort of knot.

A machine for applying size to warp yarns.

A particular quantity of yarn. [Prov. Eng.]

ut 2 -- Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7. -- Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat. -- Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M`Culloch.…

A knot or irregularity in yarn. Knight.