Nautical Term: Jews harp
Definition of Jews harp
The Jews harp refers to the ring bolted at the upper end of an anchor’s shank. This ring serves as an attachment point for the bending shackle. By securing the shackle to the Jews harp ring, the anchor is effectively connected to the chain or rope that ultimately tethers the vessel to the seabed.
Example of usage:
During the stormy night, the anchor of the ship dragged along the seabed due to the violent waves. The ship’s crew knew they had to take immediate action to secure their vessel. They quickly inspected the anchor chain and discovered that the Jews harp, the ring bolted to the upper end of the anchor shank, had been sheared off during the storm. With the Jews harp missing, the bending shackle was no longer securely attached to the anchor, making it impossible for the ship to remain anchored in the stormy conditions. The crew knew they had to quickly weigh anchor and navigate their ship through the stormy conditions to safety.
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