roband Naut.
(ˈrəʊbænd)
Also 8–9 roban.
[Later var. of robin robbin, app. more directly representing one or other of the forms cited under raband. Sometimes improved into rope-band.]
A piece of small rope passed through an eyelet-hole in the head of a sail and used to secure it to the yard above.
| 1762 Falconer Shipwreck ii. 80 To each yard-arm, the head-rope they extend, And soon their earings and the robands bend. 1769 ― Dict. Marine (1780) s.v. Sail, The heads of all four-sided sails, and the fore-leeches of lateen sails, are attached to their respective yard or gaff by a number of small cords called robands. 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xiv, All hands were..picking old rope to pieces, or laying up gaskets and robands. 1860 H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 2 What is a roband or rolling hitch used for? For bending sails,..for reefing courses,..&c. 1899 F. T. Bullen Log of Sea-waif 82 In a man-of-war, where they can send a man to every roband. |
| attrib. 1762 Falconer Shipwreck 157 The reef-lines next..Through eye-lid-holes and roband-legs are reev'd. 1769 ― Dict. Marine (1780) s.v. Reefing, Provided that the turns are inserted through the roband-legs. |