unˈbitt, v.
[un-2 3.]
trans. To uncoil or unfasten (a cable) from the bitts. Also absol.
| 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Unbitting, the operation of removing the turns of a cable from off the bits. Ibid., Débitter le cable, to unbit the cable. a 1860 H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 54 It is used for stoppering the cable, when bitting or unbitting. 1883 Man. Seamanship for Boys 189 A..Blake's stopper..is used for stoppering the cable to bitt or unbitt it. |
Hence unˈbitted ppl. a.1
| 1864 Daily Tel. 25 Feb., In what particular the public money is running through Admiralty hawse-pipes like an unbitted cable. |