Killick – The Word 

Killick - the Word

Killick - the Rank

Killick - the Knot

Killick - the Word

The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines killick as:

killick, -ock,

a noun. Heavy stone used by small craft as anchor; small anchor'; (naval slang) leading rating. [17th century of unknown origin]

You can use it in Scrabble^©!

It is interesting to note that it's first documented use as an anchor is in the 17th century, whereas the name has been found in documents dating from the 14th Century. No link has yet been found. However, the Archaeology Unit of the Memorial University of Newfoundland has found what is believed to be a 17th Century 'Killick' anchor.

The photograph below shows Barry Gaulton, of the Memorial University, excavating a killick anchor from an early seventeenth-century deposit at Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada.

This is courtesy of The Memorial University of Newfoundland at www.mun.ca/iser/ca_gaulton.html

The Directory of Knots by John Shaw (Published by Ted Smart, 2003 The Book People Edition) states:

"The killick anchor is a small improvised anchor, which would be attached to the rope anchor warp, or to the buoy line marking lobster pots on the seabed, by means of this knot, which was named and illustrated in David Steel's Elements & Practice of Rigging & Seamanaship (1794)."

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Killick - the Rank

The Royal Navy's website states:

"KILLICK

Naval slang name for a Leading Hand or Rate. A killick is a small anchor: the badge of a Leading Hand is an anchor. The word is said to come from the Erse word for a wooden anchor."

An example of the  badge of rank for a Leading Seaman in of the Royal Navy is on the right.

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Killick - the Knot or Hitch

The Killick Hitch is used for dragging or lifting timber, stones and other large objects.

It is safe as it 'pulls against it's self'.

It comprises a Timber Hitch with one or more Half Hitches. The addition of the half hitch or hitches changes the Timber Hitch to a Killick Hitch. The half hitches provide a degree of directional stability when dragging or towing lumber, etc.

This is described in detail in The Directory of Knots by John Shaw (see above)

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