hawse plug

Plug \Plug\, n. [Akin to D. plug, G. pflock, Dan. pl["o]k, plug,
   Sw. plugg; cf. W. ploc.]
   1. Any piece of wood, metal, or other substance used to stop
      or fill a hole; a stopple.
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   2. A flat oblong cake of pressed tobacco. [U. S.]
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   3. A high, tapering silk hat. [Slang, U.S.]
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   4. A worthless horse. [Slang, U.S.]
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   5. (Building) A block of wood let into a wall, to afford a
      hold for nails.
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   6. An act of plugging[6]; a brief mention for the sake of
      publicity or advertisement, especially during a public
      event not specifically intended for advertising purposes;
      as, he put in a plug for his favorite charity.
      [PJC]

   {Breech plug} (Gun.), in breech-loading guns, the metal plug
      or cylinder which closes the aperture in the breech,
      through which the gun is loaded.

   {Fire plug}, a street hydrant to which hose may be attached.
      [U. S.]

   {Hawse plug} (Naut.), a plug to stop a hawse hole.

   {Plug and feather}. (Stone Working) See {Feather}, n., 7.

   {Plug centerbit}, a centerbit ending in a small cylinder
      instead of a point, so as to follow and enlarge a hole
      previously made, or to form a counterbore around it.

   {Plug rod} (Steam Eng.), a rod attached to the beam for
      working the valves, as in the Cornish engine.

   {Plug valve} (Mech.), a tapering valve, which turns in a case
      like the plug of a faucet.
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Hawse \Hawse\ (h[add]z or h[add]s; 277), n. [Orig. a hawse hole,
   or hole in the bow of the ship; cf. Icel. hals, h[=a]ls,
   neck, part of the bows of a ship, AS. heals neck. See
   {Collar}, and cf. {Halse} to embrace.]
   1. A hawse hole. --Harris.
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   2. (Naut.)
      (a) The situation of the cables when a vessel is moored
          with two anchors, one on the starboard, the other on
          the port bow.
      (b) The distance ahead to which the cables usually extend;
          as, the ship has a clear or open hawse, or a foul
          hawse; to anchor in our hawse, or athwart hawse.
      (c) That part of a vessel's bow in which are the hawse
          holes for the cables.
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   {Athwart hawse}. See under {Athwart}.

   {Foul hawse}, a hawse in which the cables cross each other,
      or are twisted together.

   {Hawse block}, a block used to stop up a hawse hole at sea;
      -- called also {hawse plug}.

   {Hawse piece}, one of the foremost timbers of a ship, through
      which the hawse hole is cut.

   {Hawse plug}. Same as {Hawse block} (above).

   {To come in at the hawse holes}, to enter the naval service
      at the lowest grade. [Cant]

   {To freshen the hawse}, to veer out a little more cable and
      bring the chafe and strain on another part.
      [1913 Webster] hawsehole