Unclew, unclue

v. [UN-² 3.]

  1.  trans. To unwind, undo; fig. to ruin.

1607.  Shaks., Timon, I. i. 167. If I should pay you for’t as ’tis extold, It would vnclew me quite.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett., IV. Ded. They [sc. letters] can the Cabinets of Kings unscrue, And hardest intricacies of State unclue.

1654.  E. Johnson, Wonder-wrkg. Provid., 221 With watry tears unclued we will be, From creature-comforts.

1855.  Singleton, Virgil, II. 72. Dædalus himself The cheats and windings of the dome unclewed.

  refl.  1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., I. (To Vulgar), Who is he, that can be so happy, as to vnclue himselfe from this Labyrinth?

  2.  To let down the clews or lower ends of (a sail).

1855.  Singleton, Virgil, I. 384. Take your seats upon the banks; Unclew the sails with speed.

1899.  Atlantic Monthly, Aug., 197. The sailboat … lay alongside the wooden pier, with ballast stowed amidships and her mutton-ham unclewed.