[app. a. F. cordage in same sense, f. corde CORD: see -AGE. Cf. also It. cordaggi pl. ‘all manner of cordage, tacklings or ropes for ships’ (Florio).]
1. Cords or ropes collectively or in the mass, esp. the ropes in the rigging of a ship.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, V. iii. 135. Cordage of sundry sorts.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 16. To make sailes and cordage for the furnishing of shipping.
1634. Ford, P. Warbeck, V. iii. To brave the cordage Of a tough halter.
a. 1643. W. Cartwright, Lady Errant, IV. i. Wee’l give our hair for Cordage, and our finest Linnen for Sails.
1791. Hamilton, trans. Berthollet’s Dyeing, I. I. ii. i. 150. From the strongest cordage, to the finest kind of thread.
1847. Illust. Lond. News, 10 July, 30/1. Amidst the cordage and silk of the balloon.
1887. Stevenson, Underwoods, I. xvi. 37. The seaman hears Once more the cordage rattle.
b. transf.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxviii. 110. Grete ryueles and fromples, that putte oute the beaulte of the playsaunte vysage, that she sheweth all wyth cordage, aswelle in the nek as aboute the temples.
1599. T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 60. What cordage first they make and tackling sure.
1847. Longf., Ev., II. iii. 23. A cluster of trees with tangled cordage of grape-vines.
1857. Dickens, Lett., 28 Jan. His knitted brows now turning into cordage.
c. fig.
1649. Lovelace, Poems, 307. Dragg’d on still By the weake Cordage of your untwin’d will.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XV. iii. The cordage of his life had been so strained and torn.
† 2. The action of cording or tying cords. rare.
1616. T. Adams, Sacr. Thankf., 28. This mans whole life is spent in tying of cords: his profession is cordage.
