water-laid rope

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Left-hand \Left"-hand`\ (l[e^]ft"h[a^]nd`), a.
   Situated on the left; nearer the left hand than the right;
   as, the left-hand side; the left-hand road.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Left-hand rope}, rope laid up and twisted over from right to
      left, or against the sun; -- called also {water-laid
      rope}.
      [1913 Webster]