in a ship, certain short pieces of rope, which are usually knotted at one or both ends, according to the purpose for which they are designed. They are either used to suspend any heavy body, or to retain a cable, shroud, &c., in a fixed position. Thus, the anchors, when first hoisted up from the ground, are hung to the cat-head by a stopper attached to the latter, which passing through the anchor-ring, is afterwards fastened to the timber-head; and the same rope serves to fasten it on the bow at sea; or to suspend it by the ring which is to be sunk from the ship to the bottom. The stoppers of the cable have a large knot and a laniard at one end, and are fastened to a ring-bolt in the deck by the other. They are attached to the cable by the laniard, which is fastened securely round both by several turns passed behind the knot, or about the neck of the stopper; by which means the cable is restrained from running out of the ship when she rides at anchor.

The stoppers of the shroud have a knot and a laniard at each end. They are only used when the shrouds are cut adrift in battle, or disabled by tempestuous weather; at which time they are lashed, in the same manner as those of the cables, to the separated parts of the shroud, which are thereby reunited, so as to be fit for immediate service. This, however, is only a temporary expedient.