n. A string that gathers or draws together a purse, a bag, or the like; a shirring-string.n. Nautical: A kind of small line made of rope-yarns twisted together, used for seizings or for hammock-clues. Formerly robbins for bending sails and reefpoints were sometimes made in this way.n. plural The halves of two adjoining yarns in a rope, twisted up together for pointing or grafting. Also written knettles.