zlacker

Random terminology question:

While I was aware of the term "Reef knot", that knot is commonly, almost exclusively, called a "Square knot" in my (midwestern American) dialect of English.

Is this a British thing?

>>samatm+(OP)
No. "reef knot" is a sailor's term. "square knot" is actually an overhand knot tied in the end of a line. "reef knot" (properly a "bend"), is the knot used to reef sails. The common shoe-lace bow is a "double bow reef knot" or "double slippery reef knot".

Reef, bowline, and figure-eight are the three knots you must be able to tie behind your back to pass a basic sailing class.

>>samatm+(OP)
Among American sailors you will find "reef knot" dominates: it is the knot used to "reef" or diminish a sail's useful area. Among Boy Scouts (and no offense intended here) you will find the term "square knot" dominates.

>>dbcurt+42
Hmm, ok, I'll take your word for this as sailing terminology. I learned my knots in the Boy Scouts, and can knock those three off blindfolded, if not necessarily behind my back!

I will reiterate though, that the reef knot is called a square knot where I come from. Misnomer? I guess, that's what everyone calls it, an overhand stop knot is an overhand or just a "knot" actually.

>>jet_32+u5
Boy Scouts being where I learned my knots: none taken!

>>jet_32+u5
Scouts, but not in the US, was where I learnt it as "reef knot", it's pretty much the go-to knot there, to the point where I recall it making up part of a lot of designs on badges and such.

>>eythia+iQ
It was a reef knot in the Scouts in the UK also. And a granny knot was a reef know where the sequence was repeated (RoL/RoL or LoR/LoR rather than LoR/RoL IIRC.)