Naut. Corrupt form of WALL-KNOT, associated with WALNUT1 1. Also walnut-knot.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), s.v. Knot, There are several sorts of knots : the principal of these are the diamond-knot, the rose-knot, the wall-knot or walnut.
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, I. 213. A double-walnut-knot, called a button-and-loop.