Nautical Term: Hounding

Definition of Hounding

Hounding refers to the section of a mast that is located between the deck and the hounds. The hounds are actually wooden or metal rings, sometimes called hoops, which are used to support the lower rigging of a sailing vessel.

For instance, in the context of sailing, a sailor might say, We need to check the hounding of the mainmast. The rigging seems loose, and we don’t want to risk losing the sails at sea.

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