[A later spelling of CLEW, q.v. Used in all the surviving senses, but especially in the fig. In ME. -ew was the normal form even for words from French in -ue, -eu, as blew, imbew, crew, dew, sew, glew; when these were in later times altered to -ue, this spelling was extended to various native words (from OE. -iw, -eow, -eaw) as hue, spue, rue (v.), true, and clue.]
1. A ball of yarn or thread; = CLEW 2.
[1393. Gower, Conf., ed. Pauli, II. 306 reads ‘She did him have A clue of threde’: but his spelling is normalized.]
1611. Cotgr., Ploton, a clue, or bottome of.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 572. First roll up a great kind of Chaos, in manner of a … clue or bottom.
1794. A. Young, Agric. Suffolk (1797), 122. A common hand will do two skains a day, three of which are a clue at nine-pence.
1834. H. Miller, Scenes & Leg., v. (1857), 69. A small clue of yarn.
1855. Kingsley, Heroes, II. (1868), 248. I will give you [Theseus] a clue of thread, and by that perhaps you may find your way out again.
† b. A bunch or agglomeration of things. Obs.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 132. As unto the things thrown out by the hand, there is given forth a clue of springs, starts, and bearings.
1704. Worlidge, Dict. Rust., s.v. Bream, Red-worms, especially such as are to be found at the Root of a great Dock, and ly wrapt up in a round Clue.
c. 1720. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Guide, I. ii. (1738), 17. Their true substance, which consists of a very fine Clue of Vessels.
2. A ball of thread, employed to guide any one in ‘threading’ his way into or out of a labyrinth (see quot. 1393, in 1) or maze; hence, in many more or less figurative applications, a fact, circumstance or principle which, being taken hold of and followed up, leads through a maze, perplexity, difficulty, intricate investigation, etc.
1596. Drayton, Leg. Gaveston, 153. Having lost the Clue which led us in, We wandered in the Labyrinth of Lust.
1699. Pomfret, Poems, On a Marriage, 66. And treads the maze of life without a clue.
1780. Burke, Sp. Econom. Reform, Wks. III. 287. The same clue of principle leads us through the labyrinth of the other departments.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 215. The nonjurors soon got hold of the clue, and followed it resolutely.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 68. The annalists … supply an imperfect clue to guide us through these obscurities.
b. With the literal sense obscured: That which points the way, indicates a solution, or puts one on the track of a discovery; a key.
1628. Digby, Voy. Medit. (1868), Pref. 18. Seeking in the movements of the heavenly bodies for a clue to the accidents of life.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, &c. 197. I expected to have found the clue to this romance.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, viii. 99. I have got a clue to the identity of one.
c. A recognized point or landmark, or a series of such, enabling one to trace out one’s way.
1843. Lytton, Last Bar., I. ii. She had lost all clue to her way homeward.
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ghost, xxxvi. Twere vain to stay Here in the dark without a single clue.
3. Any figurative ‘thread’: a. the thread of a discourse, of thought, of history, tendency, etc.
1656. Sanderson, Serm., Pref. § 23. But how much farther it will reach, none can say; for no man yet ever saw the bottom of the clue.
1678. Norris, Misc. (1699), 235. I am by the clue of Meditation further led to conclude.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Postillion. I then tried to return [in thought] to the story of the poor German and his ass, but I had broke the clue.
1876. Birch, Monum. Hist. Egypt, 13. Research which has opened every tomb and joined the broken clue of history from contemporaneous monuments.
b. The thread of life which the Fates are fabled to spin and determine.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., IV. 58. The Fates, when they this happy Web have spun, Shall bless the sacred Clue, and bid it smoothly run.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XX. 250. Stranger, may fate a milder aspect shew, And spin thy future with a whiter clue!
4. Naut. Of a sail: see CLEW 7.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 6. Spreading their drabled sailes in the full clue abroad a drying.
1774. Westm. Mag., II. 429. We’re all Macaronies from earing to clue.
1829. Blackw. Mag., XXVI. 573. Let’s over-haul Mr. Dibdin from clue to earing.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Clue, Clue-garnet, Clue-line, etc.
5. Of a hammock: see CLEW 6.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pick., xcix. To trust yourself and your doxy to a clue and canvas.
6. Comb. See CLEW.
¶ In the following, an error for elne = ell in quot. 1569; (probably the same in quot. 1465).
1465. Paston Lett., No. 528, II. 235. Send me hedir ij clue af worsted for dobletts.
1569. Stanford Churchw. Acc., in Antiquary (1888), April, 169. For viij clues of holland to make a surplesse xs. viiid.
Clue. Another spelling of CLEW v.
