Definitions Deconstructed

It's Knot That Hard

S. G. Lacey

Definition:
A compact intersection of interlaced material, such as cord, ribbon, or rope. [REF]

Deconstruction:

The historical etymology of this common term is nearly as diverse as the range of unique linkages which can be crafted with a simple length of cord. As with physical knots, the divergent executions all rely on core fundamental literary elements.

Old English, Proto-Germanic, Frisian, High German, Dutch, and Old Norse all have various versions of this word, which can be both a noun and a verb. The main differences across these languages are the leading letter, “c” or “k”, the usage of single or double “t”s, and the trailing vowel, “a”, “e”, “o”, and of course, none, as utilized in the contemporary English spelling.

In addition to the traditional meaning, referencing a dense mass of entwined rope, there are several common figurative uses of the term “knot”. Not surprisingly, all these analogies tie back to the physical act of joining actual fibrous cords together.

The “Gordian Knot”, originating from the namesake Phrygian ruler of 8th century BCE, who was the father of legendary King Midas. According to legend, half a millennia later in 333 BCE, after struggling to untangle a hemp rope from the wooden axle of an incapacitated wagon during his Macedonian conquest, Alexander the Great deftly cut through this symbolic obstruction on his way to Asian conquest. This phrase is now used to reference any clever solution to a difficult life problem.

“Tie the knot”, a euphemism for modern day marriage, links back to the medieval Celtic tradition of binding the newlywed couples’ hands together with silk cloth. This practice is still common in many traditional Pagan or Irish ceremonies, and has become quite prevalent across broader society after the act’s incorporation into the “Game of Thrones” plotline. Plus, being the source of countless internet memes about the rigors of marriage commitment.

There’s even an official scientific term, the “knot”, of identical spelling, which is used for nautical rate of travel measurement. Predictably, this 17th century metric harkens back to the method by which sailors of this era measured the speed of their ship. Using a long length of rope with knots tied at regular increments, mariners would attach one end to a wooden float buoy, toss the item off the back of the boat for a fixed length of time, then check the distance traveled. This simple solution for soliciting speed is still part of modern maritime lingo, though measurement methods have advanced significantly.

There’s one present day application which is so ubiquitous that it serves as a means by which nearly all children learn the fundamental skill of knot typing. Securing one’s small shoes with looping laces. Considering the proliferation of snazzy sneakers worldwide, incorporating footwear innovations like ratchet-style cable tightening, hook-and-loop closure straps, or even flexible slip-ons designs, even this basic talent is going by the wayside amongst the youthful generation.

The other element of daily life where knots are relevant, especially amongst men, is for securing neckties as part of a proper business suit presentation. Again, as attire preferences in society shift, and the corporate world becomes less formal, Windsor and Bowtie proficiency and necessity are waning, aside from the wedding and wake industries.

It’s time to bring knot tying skills back to the public at large, for safety, as opposed to style, reasons.

There are various professions where knots remain essential to daily functionality: sailors, ranchers, fishermen, and anyone who’s vocation involves being exposed to high heights. Even doctors and dentists utilize various tied sutures in surgical procedures, an application where extreme precision and absolute performance is mandatory.

Aside from worktime endeavors, knot skills are beneficial for many recreational pursuits: hunting, camping, boating, and rock climbing. Knowing just a few cord linkages can instill confidence, improve safety, and inspire performance in all manner of outdoor adventures.

We’ve come a long way in our understanding of how knots work, and which linkages are best for certain applications. Many of these learnings were made by our ancient ancestors though brute force experimentation. Undoubtably, there were a few frictional failures along the way.

Ropes occur naturally, in the form of roots and vines. However, traditional flora growth yields limited length and inconsistent shape. Homo sapiens’ ability to connect and manipulate these fibrous strands opened all manner of opportunities. Between development of knots and braids, along with basic cutting tools, all manner of formerly inconceivable physical structures were now feasible.

Early foragers relied on their learned tying skills for nearly all essential elements of life, especially with regards to the key task of gathering sustenance: nets for fishing, snares for hunting, baskets for gathering, spits for cooking. As domestication proceeded, knots became critical for securing all manner of important objects: animals, boats, children, shelters, and any other item with a tendency to disappear naturally when left unattended.

Fossilized remnants of knotted ropes over 15k years old have been unearthed by archeologists. This timeline means that such artifacts date back much further in the progression of human civilization than development of the wheel. Using this symbiotic pair of innovative technologies, along with massive quantities of physical labor, allowed the Egyptians to assembly their famous pyramids, the Romans to erect their huge amphitheaters, and the Chinese to construct their lengthy wall.

One of the most ancient and impressive applications of knot usage can be observed within the Incan Empire. Tracing back over 4 millennia, this civilization, and most others in the Andean region, used a system of colored strings with strategically placed nodes for time and record keeping as their governed lands expanded.

Known as quipu by the Spanish conquistadors, the original “khipu” literally translates to “knot” in the native Quechua tongue. The color of the yarn, spacing of the bulges, and number of strands, typically mounted in a circumferential pattern to a center wooden ring, allowed primary numerical information to be accurately documented.

Though scientists differ on the exact interpretation, it appears the quipu system incorporated the base 10 numerical system which is still the primary mathematical method used today. Different types of knots denoted different numbers: a figure eight representing the number 1, a long string for values 2 through 9, and single balls denoting the logarithmic between tens and ten-thousands decimal places.

Clearly, this methodology works better in visual form, as shown in the schematic below. Many more subtle elements of the quipu methodology, like color, spacing, and yarn count, are still being research and confirmed. An impressive system, especially for a group that never developed a formal written language.

While this ancient Incan application of corded manipulation is purely for documentation purposes, most wrapped rope executions are decidedly more functional. Before diving into the various types of functional knots, it’s important to understand why these snarled formats work in the first place.

Efficient tied junctions rely on friction between the various intertwined surfaces of the cord. That’s why rope material selected, routing of the lines, and resistance experienced under load, are all critical to knot selection and success.

There’s a delicate balance between speed and simplicity of knot execution, and the functional performance of the resulting entanglement.

When examining various forms of knots, it’s helpful to absorb some basic terminology in this field. The generic “knot”, as already defined, more specifically involves using both ends of the same rope to create a bulbous point in the line. In contrast, a “bend” is a means of connecting two separate ropes, often for security or length extension purposes.

Other types of knots link a cord with alternative material formats. A “hitch”, useful for many cowboy-themed activities, involves attaching one end of a rope to a secure hold like a ring or post. Lastly, “lashing” is used to connect multiple spars of wood or metal together, which is applicable in many structural applications.

A novel knot is one that provides functionality and versatility, while being both simple and repeatable to execute. Human memory capacity is limited, especially for a tangible task which isn’t being performed on a regular basis.

More importantly, in the heat of the moment, during a potential emergency, instincts often kick in, drawing on useful knowledge from one’s youth. Thus, frequent knot typing practice is a useful endeavor. Which doesn’t take many resources, aside from a length of twine, and a few free minutes.

The basic Overhand Knot is by far the most common technique. This secure cinch is prevalent throughout daily life: stopping a multi-ply thread from fraying, sealing off an inflated balloon, creating a visible bulbus point for a craft project, neatly closing a plastic bag with goodies, or poop, inside.

There’s a nearly infinite number of ways to manipulate a length of cord, each configuration offering up specific benefits, with inherent weaknesses. Having established this fundamental categorization, it’s now useful to dive into some specific knots that provide specific functionality.

Square Knot (Reef Knot) & Sheet Bend:

The basic Square Knot should never be used to connect two pieces of rope, for connecting a cord to another dynamic object, or in any load-bearing applications. Making it a seemingly useless configuration, from a practical standpoint.

However, the basic path of the Square Knot, allowing the rope to link up tight and smooth, makes it the foundation for many other more complex executions. Plus, a fine connection for affixing temporary bandage dressings, or sealing stinky garbage bags.

If two ends of rope need to be directly connected, especially those of drastically different size, the Sheet Bend is the weapon of choice. While seemingly simple, this linkage relies directly on friction and leverage. The more force is applied to either end, the tighter the noose is drawn.

Such a linkage can be valuable in scenarios where random pieces of broken cord must be connected in a pinch to create a roving of the required length. Even quite disparate diameters can be joined, using the larger for the loop, then doubling up the smaller for the tie-in wrap.

Carrick Bend & Double Fisherman’s (Grapevine) Knot:

There are many situations where two ropes need to be joined together. This can be for something as mundane as extending a clothesline in the yard, or as essential as dispensing a lifeline in a crevasse. There are countless ways to execute this joint; the selected knot should be selected based on the anticipated load, the composition of the paired cords, and the required duration for the connection.

A Carrick Bend is a valuable method for linking a pair of identical ropes. This approach is very secure if the angles of the layout are symmetrical, and the mated cords are similar in diameter. Again, this junction can be easily undone when the primary load is removed. Many highly functional fishing nets have been creating in a pinch using this boringly repetitive but functional technique.

This is another knot where care must be taken in execution. The shorts tail ends must be oriented diagonal to the main line and positioned opposite each other when tightened. If not, this connection can wriggle loose over time, potentially with catastrophic consequences.

A completely different approach which eliminates this failure risk is the Double Fisherman’s Knot. This system uses mechanical interlocking of overhand stoppers at the end of each cord to make a very secure connection. The additional benefit of this linkage is that it allows the opposing ropes to slide past each other.

Originally used for fishing line applications, hence the name, this method is now very common in the climbing industry, utilized to ascend or rappel. This knot is also a crucial component of creating Prusik Hitches, a key item in the mountaineer’s toolkit for executing sliding rope sling linkages.

Bowline & Figure 8 (Double Up Both):

While visually complex, the Bowline was one of the original knots utilized by the Egyptians, and other ancient civilizations, for all manner of functional tasks. The Bowline is incredibly secure under load, while easy to untie when unweighted. Allowing a loop of desired size to be created at the end of a length of rope, the range of potential applications is quite broad.

It’s important to note that the Bowline is easy to execute incorrectly; the wrong rope routing can compromise functionality. As a result, there are double and triple versions of this cord path, which offer increased security. Regardless of the selected configuration, for outdoor enthusiasts this technique is invaluable for trapping and angling applications.

This famous knot can be seen in many maritime-themed movies, most notably Jaws, where the pair of protagonists collaborate on a rope rescue to escape the huge shark villain. While this stressful scenario hopefully never materializes, the Bowline is a versatile knot worth knowing just in case.

Another knot which pervades the big screen is the Figure 8. This configuration, one of the simplest paths to learn, is a staple for sailors and climbers who don’t want ropes to slip out of retaining devices like cleats or harnesses.

The double path variant provides an incredibly secure anchor loop. When executed correctly, any increase in load, be it the accidental drop of a heavy cargo on pulley, or the fall of a slight teammate on belay, cinches this sturdy noose even tighter, allowing the impending gravity-fueled force to be arrested.

Shear & Square & Diagonal Lash:

The Shear and Square Lashes, shown in the above images, are commonly utilized to secure posts, in parallel and perpendicular configurations, respectively, with many hybrid options. Combined with a Diagonal Lash, this approach can turn a heap of brush and a mess of vines into a sturdy habitat.

This collection of similar techniques are all very sturdy, offering a secure, long-term, structural connection, when done correctly. These joints rely on numerous wrapped lengths of rope against the reinforcing member, rather than resistance of the rope against itself.

The Shear Lash can even be used to attach multiple poles in parallel, allowing for lengthy ladder creation. This approach was used widely by ancient civilizations to aid with building construction scaffolding before the advent of more complex joining methods.

Looking at the basic form of these connections, it’s easy to envision our nomadic ancestors of yore using such multi-wrap linkages to join wooden branches with jungle creepers, bamboo rods with goatskin twine, or animal bones with dried intestines from the same kill, depending on the geographic location and historical era of each tribe. Various types of lashes are still enlisted to create makeshift garden trellises in gardens worldwide.

Clove (Double Half) & Taut-Line Hitches:

The family of knots known as hitches are used for exactly what the name implies. Affixing a flexible length of cord to a rigid fixed point. Such solid attachment is useful when connecting a grazing goat to an accommodating tree in a hilly Mediterranean pasture, locking up the reins of a horse outside a bar in the Wild West, or securing a dog leash to a downtown Shanghai park bench in modern times.

The Clove Hitch is the most widely used means for executing all these historical efforts. The simplicity of the routing, and the ease of disengagement, makes this the obvious selection of choice.

The Clove Hitch is another fundamental knot which provides the basis for more complex offerings. This dual loop format allows a connection point to be created in the middle of a length of rope. As a result, it’s a convenient approach for securing all manner of guidelines in camping, climbing, and canoeing.

Interesting, this unique configuration is most secure when there’s a load on both sides of the line. Thus, this anchor can be incredibly secure when stressed, but easily removed if the force at either end abates, allowing rapid removal. The Clove Hitch can be implemented ahead of time, the simply slipped into position and cinched down when needed.

Slightly more complicated, the Taut-Line Hitch offers up additional functionality. Incorporating 3 loops instead of 2, the routing of the rope allows the length of either end to be shortened or lengthened while under load. A useful feature for adjustable tensioning applications; from pulling taunt a makeshift tarp, to linking a sleep sack to a rock anchor, the Taut-Line is a bivouac’s best friend.

The best part about knot knowledge is that it’s something which can be learned from a very young age. All it takes to reinforce this skill is heading out to the lake to tie some sinkers on a line, walking over to the crag to affix a rope to a harness, creating a homemade bow and arrow with strong twine and a springy sapling, or just lounging in a makeshift hammock formed by intertwining a thick rope.

If one really gets addicted to knots, macramé, an artistic pursuit relying on complex configurations of tied linkages, could be a useful hobby. Just pick up some string and start experimenting. It’s knot that hard.

Details:

“Knot” etymology including alternate definitions. [REF]
Background on knot as a nautical measurement term. [REF]
Details on quipu techniques used by the Incas. [REF]
Basic history of knots. [REF]
List of knots with brief description and schematics. [REF]
6 interesting knots with close-up pictures. [REF]
7 useful survival knots with relevant applications. [REF]
Great step-by-step resource for learning how to tie knots. [REF]