Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A block, used on ships, having an opening in one side to receive the bight of a rope.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • I've been here, now backing and then filling, in and out, just as it suits that chap with the face like a snatch-block.

    An Outcast or, Virtue and Faith

  • The bight of a rope was made into a running knot and hove round the body of the animal; when, the men hauling away with a will at the other end of the line, which was passed through a snatch-block hung in the rigging, the captive was soon bowsed up to the mizzen chains.

    The White Squall A Story of the Sargasso Sea J. [Illustrator] Schonberg

  • For hauling up the loads, a thin wire line, with a pulley-block at either extremity, rolling one on each of the carrying wires, passed round a snatch-block at the upper station.

    The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920

  • In paying out, the wire was led from the head of the derrick to a snatch-block on the quarter (E), constructed so as to admit of its disengagement from the wire when it was necessary to heave in.

    The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 Douglas Mawson 1920

  • From the supercargo's neck the rope led aloft through a small snatch-block fastened to the end of

    Cappy Ricks Retires 1918

  • Before this another gang had been able to slip the other chain to position abaft the mizzenmast, hook on the tackle, and lead the fall through a snatch-block at the quarter-bitts forward to the midship capstan.

    "Where Angels Fear to Tread" and Other Stories of the Sea Morgan Robertson 1888

  • Manners had been landed; and then, resolved to make the most of the fair wind and the fine weather, he ran aloft and loosed the three topsails, which, with a considerable amount of labour, and with the aid of the winch and a snatch-block, he and Price actually succeeded in getting sheeted home and mast-headed.

    The Missing Merchantman Harry Collingwood 1886

  • Then, having squared the main and topsail yard, we got the halyard to the winch, with the aid of a snatch-block, and hoisted the sail, flat aback.

    Overdue The Story of a Missing Ship Harry Collingwood 1886

  • Then by means of a snatch-block, the watch-tackle, and the winch, we proceeded to lift first the bows and then the stern out of the water, a foot or so at a time.

    Overdue The Story of a Missing Ship Harry Collingwood 1886

  • Then, going forward, I brought aft a snatch-block that I had previously been using, led the falls, one after the other, through this to the winch, and, with Miss Onslow hanging on to the rope to prevent it slipping on the barrel of the winch, managed to hoist the boat and secure her.

    The Castaways Harry Collingwood 1886

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