Nautical, to tighten by binding together, as the shrouds of the lower rigging.

noun. Nautical: The forward shroud of the lower rigging.

noun. plural Formerly, in English ships, the after pair of shrouds.

noun. A small line joining the outer ends of capstan-bars to confine them to their sockets while the capstan is being turned.

noun. A rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally to strengthen and defend her sides in collision.

noun. Tackling to fasten a load to a wagon.

noun. A strong short stick inserted loop-wise into a rope or chain that goes round a load, acting as a lever to bind the load more tightly together.

transitive verb. To tighten, as slack standing rigging, by bringing the opposite shrouds nearer.

noun. A rope used to retain the bars of the capstan in their sockets while men are turning it.

noun. A rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally, to strengthen and defend her sides.

noun. The forward shroud of a lower mast.

adjective. comparative form of swift: more swift

verb. To tighten (e.g. slack standing rigging) by bringing the opposite shrouds nearer.

"87 But if we attentively reflect how much swifter is the progress of corruption than its cure, and if we remember that the years abandoned to public disorders exceeded the months allotted to the martial reign of Aurelian, we must confess that a few short intervals of peace were insufficient for the arduous work of reformation."

swiftering-in line  to swifter a ship  to swifter the capstan-bar  

drifter  lifter  shifter  snifter  

surer