Cable /(kā"b'l)/

Ca·ble

Cable

n.
  1. A large, strong rope or chain, of considerable length, used to retain a vessel at anchor, and for other purposes. It is made of hemp, of steel wire, or of iron links.
  2. A rope of steel wire, or copper wire, usually covered with some protecting or insulating substance; as, the cable of a suspension bridge; a telegraphic cable.
  3. A molding, shaft of a column, or any other member of convex, rounded section, made to resemble the spiral twist of a rope; -- called also cable molding. (Arch)

Phrases & Compounds
Bower cable
the cable belonging to the bower anchor.
Cable road
a railway on which the cars are moved by a continuously running endless rope operated by a stationary motor.
Cable's length
the length of a ship's cable. Cables in the merchant service vary in length from 100 to 140 fathoms or more; but as a maritime measure, a cable's length is either 120 fathoms (720 feet), or about 100 fathoms (600 feet, an approximation to one tenth of a nautical mile).
Cable tier
That part of a vessel where the cables are stowed.
Sheet cable
the cable belonging to the sheet anchor.
Stream cable
a hawser or rope, smaller than the bower cables, to moor a ship in a place sheltered from wind and heavy seas.
Submarine cable
See Telegraph.
To pay out the cable
to slacken it, that it may run out of the ship; to let more cable run out of the hawse hole.
To serve the cable
to bind it round with ropes, canvas, etc., to prevent its being, worn or galled in the hawse, et.
To slip the cable
to let go the end on board and let it all run out and go overboard, as when there is not time to weigh anchor. Hence, in sailor's use, to die.

Cable

v. t.
  1. To fasten with a cable.
  2. To ornament with cabling. See Cabling. (Arch.)

Cable

v. t. & i.

imp. & p. p. Cabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Cabling

  1. To telegraph by a submarine cable [Recent]