sheepshank
/ˈʃiːpˌʃæŋk/
noun
- A type of knot used to shorten a rope or to take up slack without cutting the rope.
- He learned how to tie a sheepshank in his scouting class.
- The sailor tied a sheepshank to shorten the mooring line.
- A sheepshank is useful when you need to bypass a damaged section of rope.