Cable

(kā'bl), n. [Fr. câble, Sp. & Pg. cable, cable, It. cappio, knot, from L. Lat. capulum, caplum, a rope, from capere, to take, M. Gr. καπλίον, D., Dan., Sw., & Ger. kabel.]

1Sense 1. A large, strong rope or chain, used to retain a vessel at anchor, and for other purposes. It is commonly made of hemp or iron, but sometimes of iron or copper wire, as in the case of the cable of a suspension bridge, or of a submarine connection in the electric telegraph.

2Sense 2. (Arch.) A wreathed, circular molding, cut to resemble a rope. Gwilt.

Cable’s length, the length of a ship’s cable, usually 120 fathoms, or 720 feet.—Stream cable, a hawser or rope, smaller than the bower cables, to moor a ship in a place sheltered from wind and heavy seas.—To pay out, or to veer out the cable, to slacken it, that it may run out of the ship.—To serve the cable, to bind it round with ropes, canvas, &c., to prevent its being worn or galled in the hawse.—To slip the cable, to let it run out.