Turk's head knot

Turk's head knot

Knot-details
name=Turk's head knot


caption=
names=
type= decorative
strength=
origin= Ancient
related=
releasing=
uses= Decorative
caveat=
abok_number= 1278–1401 (Chapter 17: The Turk's-Head)

A Turk's head knot is a decorative knot with a variable number of interwoven strands, forming a closed loop. The name is used to describe the general family of all such knots rather than one individual knot. While generally seen made around a cylinder, the knot can also be deformed into a flat, mat-like shape. The knot is used primarily for decoration and occasionally as anti-chafing protection. A notable practical use for the Turk's head is to mark the "king spoke" of a ship's wheel; when this spoke is upright the rudder is in a central position. The knot takes its name from a notional resemblance to a turban though a turban is wound rather than interwoven.

Leads and bights

Each type of Turk's Head knot is classified according to the number of leads and bights and method of construction. The number of bights is the number of crossings it makes as it goes around the circumference of the cylinder. The number of leads is the number of strands along the long axis of the cylinder. Depending on the number of leads and bights, a Turk's Head may be tied using a single strand or multiple strands. Mathematically, the number of strands is the greatest common divisor of the number of leads and the number of bends; the knot may be tied with a single strand if and only if the two numbers are coprime. For example, 3 lead x 5 bight (3x5), or 5 lead x 7 bight (5x7).

There are three groupings of Turk's Head knots.
#Narrow, where the number of leads is two or more less than the number of bights, (3x5, or 3x7)
#Wide, where the number of leads is two or more more than the number of bights(5x3, or 16x7), and
#Square, where there is only a difference of one between leads and bights (7x8 or 8x7).

External links

* [http://www.troop54.com/knots/TurksHeadKnot/TurksHeadKnot.htm How to tie a Turk's Head knot]
* [http://www.shurdington.org/Scouts/TurksHead.htm Shurdington (UK Scouting) Turks Head Knot]
* [http://www.scoutxing.com/knots/turks_head/turks_head.htm How to tie a Turk's Head knot]
* [http://www.summitpost.org/article/263578/So-You-Want-to-Make-a-Rope-Rug-Eh-.html So-You-Want to Make a Rope Rug Eh]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Turk's head — Turk Turk, n. [Per. Turk; probably of Tartar origin: cf. F. Turc.] 1. A member of any of numerous Tartar tribes of Central Asia, etc.; esp., one of the dominant race in Turkey. [1913 Webster] 2. A native or inhabitant of Turkey. [1913 Webster] 3 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Turk's-head — n. 1. (Naut.) A knot of turbanlike form worked on a rope with a piece of small line. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. (a) The melon cactus. [West Indies] (b) Any of several species of {Echinocactus}. [California] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 3. A long handled …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Turk's-head — Turk s′ head n. a turbanlike knot of small cords, made around a rope, spar, etc • Etymology: 1715–25 …   From formal English to slang

  • Turk's-head — [tʉrks′hed΄] n. Naut. a turbanlike knot made on a rope by means of a small line …   English World dictionary

  • Turk's-head — /terrks hed /, n. a turbanlike knot of small cords, made around a rope, spar, etc. [1715 25] * * * Turk s head «TURKS HEHD», noun. a type of ornamental knot tied by winding small cord around a larger rope, used especially by sailors …   Useful english dictionary

  • Turk's head — noun Date: 1833 a turban shaped knot worked on a rope with a piece of small line see knot illustration …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Turk's head — noun an ornamental knot that resembles a small turban • Hypernyms: ↑knot …   Useful english dictionary

  • Turk's-head — /terrks hed /, n. a turbanlike knot of small cords, made around a rope, spar, etc. [1715 25] * * * …   Universalium

  • turk's head — noun A knot, or any of various similar kinds of knots, resulting in a ball of rope …   Wiktionary

  • Turk's head — noun an ornamental knot resembling a turban in shape, made in the end of a rope to form a stopper …   English new terms dictionary

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