KNECK. The twisting of rope or cable as it is veering out.
KNEE. Naturally grown timber, or bars of iron, bent to a right angle, or
to fit the surfaces, and to secure bodies firmly together, as hanging
knees secure the deck-beams to the sides. They are divided into
_hanging-knees_, _diagonal hanging-knees_, _lodging-knees or deck-beam
knees_, _transom-knees_, _helm-post transom-knees_, _wing transom-knees_
(which see).
KNEE OF THE HEAD. A large flat piece of timber, fixed edgeways, and
fayed upon the fore-part of a ship's stem, supporting the ornamental
figure. (_See_ HEAD.) Besides which, this piece is otherwise useful as
serving to secure the boom or bumkin, by which the fore-tack is extended
to windward, and by its great breadth preventing the ship from falling
to leeward, when close-hauled, so much as she would otherwise be liable
to do. It also affords security to the bowsprit by increasing the angle
of the bobstay, so as to make it act more perpendicularly on the
bowsprit. The _knee of the head_ is a phrase peculiar to shipwrights; by
seamen it is called the _cut-water_ (which see).
KNEES. _Dagger-knees_ are those which are fixed rather obliquely to avoid
an adjacent gun-port, or where, from the vicinity of the next beam, there
is not space for the arms of two lodging-knees.--_Lodging-knees_ are fixed
horizontally in the ship's frame, having one arm bolted to the beam, and
the other across two or three of the timbers.--_Standard-knees_ are those
which, being upon a deck, have one arm bolted down to it, and the other
pointing upwards secured to the ship's side; such also, are the bits and
channels.
KNEE-TIMBER. That sort of crooked timber which forms at its back or
elbow an angle of from 24 deg. to 45 deg.; but the more acute this angle
is, the more valuable is the timber on that account. Used for knees,
rising floors, and crutches. Same as _raking-knees_.
KNETTAR. A string used to tie the mouth of a sack.