- A frame of two strong timbers fixed perpendicularly in
the fore part of a ship, on which to fasten the cables as the ship
rides at anchor, or in warping. Other bitts are used for belaying
(belaying bitts), for sustaining the windlass (carrick bitts, winch
bitts, or windlass bitts), to hold the pawls of the windlass (pawl
bitts) etc.
Definition
[ n. pl.]