thief knot

English

Comparison between a thief knot (Diebesknoten) and reef knot (Kreuzknoten).

Etymology

Supposedly used as a theft-detection system; thieves would retie bags with a more common reef knot, revealing the theft.

Noun

thief knot (plural thief knots)

1. a knot for tying together two ends of rope; similar to a reef knot, but with the tails (short ends) on opposite sides; weaker than a reef knot

Translations

knot used to tie two ends of rope