In sailing, an earing is a small line (rope) used to fasten the corner of a sail to a spar or yard.^[1]

Background

In the Age of Sail, a position at the Weather Earing (the earing at the windward side of the ship) was considered a place of honor for the topmen, and on a merchant ship was the position of the second mate during reefing.

References

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^ "Sailing Glossary". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13.

External links

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"Dana's Seaman's friend". 1845.
Dana, Richard Henry (1856). "The Nautical Magazine: A Technical and Critical Journal for the ..."

Sails, spars and rigging

including limited use^*, outdated^†

Rigs
(jury rigging)

Textile	Bermuda B&R Cat Fore-and-aft Gaff Gunter Junk^* Ljungström Mast-aft Pinisi Square
Other	Rotorsail^* Turbosail^* Wingsail

Sails
(sailing rigs)

Three-sided	Asymmetrical spinnaker Crab claw^* Gennaker Genoa Jib Lateen Mainsail (Bermuda rig) Raffee Ringtail^* Screecher^* Spinnaker Staysail Trysail^*
Four-sided	Course Fisherman^† Foresail Junk sail^* Lug sail Mainsail (square rig) Moonraker^* Ringtail^* Royal Skysail^* Spanker Spritsail (square-rigged)^† Spritsail^* (Optimist) Studding^* Tanja sail Topgallant Topsail Watersail^*
Components	Batten Bolt rope Cringle Emblems Draft Jackline Reefing points Roach Sailcloth Spreader patch Tell-tale

Spars

On bow	Bowsprit sprit topmast Dolphin striker Jackstaff Jibboom Pelican striker
On mast	Boom Boomkin Gaff Truck Crosstrees Spinnaker pole Spreader Sprit Yard

Rigging

Standing	Bobstay Lazy jack Running backstay Shroud ratlines Stay mouse^† Stays backstay forestay
Running	Boomkicker^* Boom vang Braces Buntlines Cunningham Clewlines Downhaul Guy Halyard peak throat Outhaul Preventer Sheet Tack Topping lift
Components	Baggywrinkle Belaying pin^* Block Cleat bitts Clevis pin Deadeye Earing Fairlead Footrope Gasket Parrel beads Ring bolt Roller furling Shackle Swivel gooseneck Trapeze Traveller Turnbuckle Winch