Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Clew
1.
To direct; to guide, as by a thread.
[Obs.]
Direct and
clew
me out the way to happiness. Beau. & Fl.
2.
(Naut.)
To move of draw (a sail or yard) by means of the clew garnets, clew lines, etc.; esp. to draw up the clews of a square sail to the yard.
To clew down
(Naut.)
, to force (a yard) down by hauling on the clew lines.
– To clew up
(Naut.)
, to draw (a sail) up to the yard, as for furling.