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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Cable \Ca"ble\ (k[=a]"b'l), n. [F. c[^a]ble, LL. capulum,
caplum, a rope, fr. L. capere to take; cf. D., Dan., & G.
kabel, from the French. See {Capable}.]
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.
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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.
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3. (Arch) 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}.
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{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}.
(a) That part of a vessel where the cables are stowed.
(b) A coil of a cable.

{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 veer 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.
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Cable \Ca"ble\ (k[=a]"b'l), v. t.
1. To fasten with a cable.
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2. (Arch.) To ornament with cabling. See {Cabling}.
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Cable \Ca"ble\, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. {Cabled} (-b'ld); p.
pr. & vb. n. {Cabling} (-bl[i^]ng).]
To telegraph by a submarine cable [Recent]
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