hawsepipe
C2Nautical/Technical
Definition
Meaning
The cylindrical steel pipe or tube in a ship's bow through which the anchor chain passes.
The entire arrangement of pipes, stoppers, and fittings in the bow of a ship that guide and house the anchor cable from the deck to the hawsehole. By extension, the term can sometimes refer to the space or opening itself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This term is exclusively nautical and technical. It refers specifically to the pipe fitting, not the opening (which is the hawsehole). The plural is 'hawsepipes'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Spelling is identical. Usage is identical in both maritime communities.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both UK and US English, used only in maritime engineering, naval architecture, and by sailors.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [NOUN] passed through the hawsepipe.Inspect the [ADJECTIVE] hawsepipe for damage.[VERB] the hawsepipe with high-pressure water.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The related term 'a pretty pair of hawsepipes' is obsolete naval slang for someone with prominent front teeth.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used only in papers on naval architecture, maritime history, or marine engineering.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Unfamiliar to the general public.
Technical
The primary context. Used in shipbuilding manuals, deck officer training, and maintenance logs.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The chain was hawsepiped through the bow fitting.
- We need to hawsepipe the new cable properly.
American English
- The crew hawsepiped the anchor rode during the retrofit.
- The manual details how to hawsepipe the assembly.
adjective
British English
- The hawsepipe assembly was corroded.
- A hawsepipe inspection is required quarterly.
American English
- The hawsepipe compartment needed cleaning.
- Check the hawsepipe mechanism for wear.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The thick anchor chain rattled loudly in the hawsepipe as it was lowered.
- Rust was visible around the edge of the hawsepipe.
- During the refit, the naval architects specified thicker steel for the hawsepipes to withstand heavier chains.
- A faulty seal on the hawsepipe allowed seawater to ingress into the chain locker below decks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a horse ('hawse') drinking water through a long PIPE. This horse is on a ship's bow, and the 'water' is actually the anchor chain running through the pipe.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SHIP IS A LIVING BEING: The hawsepipe is a 'throat' or 'gullet' for the anchor chain.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'шпигат' (scupper/drain) or 'кнехт' (bollard). The direct equivalent is 'клюз' (hawsehole), but 'hawsepipe' is more specifically the pipe ('клюзовая труба').
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'horsepipe' or 'hose pipe'.
- Using it as a general term for any hole or pipe on a ship.
- Confusing it with 'hawsehole' (the opening).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a hawsepipe?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The hawsehole is the opening in the hull. The hawsepipe is the cylindrical pipe or tube fitted into that opening that the chain runs through.
Almost all traditional ships with anchor chains have hawsepipes. Some modern vessels with specialised anchor systems or small boats with rope anchors may use simpler fittings.
Yes, but rarely. In technical maritime contexts, it can mean to fit or pass something through a hawsepipe.
It is located in the bow (front) of the ship, on either the port (left) or starboard (right) side, or sometimes centrally.