Reeving

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The procedure involving the insertion of a line through multiple pulleys to improve mechanical efficiency is essential in lifting tasks
2. The act of guiding a rope or cable through a series of pulleys to create mechanical advantage
3. The process of passing a line through wheels or sheaves to set up a system for hauling or lifting

Etymology: Threading a rope through a pulley or block is called "reeving," and the verb "reeve" is its root. Its origin is uncertain. It may be an alternative form of "reef," meaning to pull or yank hard, or it may come from the Dutch "reven," meaning to take in or insert. The verb is probably unrelated to the medieval official "reeve," a word that goes back to Old English "rēfa" and is cognate with German "Graf." That official title was mostly replaced by "bailiff," a word of Anglo-Norman origin.