v. [UN-2 3.] trans. To uncoil or unfasten (a cable) from the bitts. Also absol.

1

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Unbitting, the operation of removing the turns of a cable from off the bits. Ibid., Débitter le cable, to unbit the cable.

2

a. 1860.  H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 54. It is used for stoppering the cable, when bitting or unbitting.

3

1883.  Man. Seamanship for Boys, 189. A … Blake’s stopper … is used for stoppering the cable to bitt or unbitt it.

4

  Hence Unbitted ppl. a.1

5

1864.  Daily Tel., 25 Feb. In what particular the public money is running through Admiralty hawse-pipes like an unbitted cable.

6