fid

  1. Noun.  (nautical) A pointed tool without any sharp edges, used in weaving or knotwork to tighten and form up weaves or complex knots; used in sailing ships to open the strands of a rope before splicing. Compare marlinespike.
  2. Noun.  (nautical) A square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, to support the weight of the topmast (on a ship).
  3. Noun.  A plug of oakum for the vent of a gun.
  4. Noun.  A small thick piece of anything.
  5. Noun.  A wooden or metal bar or pin, used to support or steady anything.
  6. Noun.  A naval euphemism for "penis", derived from the similarity of each of the above to the male reproductive organ.
  7. Verb.  To support a topmast using a fid.

This is an unmodified, but possibly outdated, definition from Wiktionary and used here under the Creative Commons license. Wiktionary is a great resource. If you like it too, please donate to Wikimedia.

This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.