fire-escape knot

noun

A series of evenly spaced overhand knots in a rope, which make it more secure for climbing or descending. Often used for fire escapes and jib boom foot ropes on rigged sail ships. Also known as the Philadelphia knot.

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Meanings

nounfire-escape knot (plural fire-escape knots)

plural fire-escape knots

  1. nauticalA series of evenly spaced overhand knots in a rope, which make it more secure for climbing or descending. Often used for fire escapes and jib boom foot ropes on rigged sail ships. Also known as the Philadelphia knot.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
philadelphia knot
Cite this entry
APA

fire-escape knot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fire-escape%20knot

MLA

“fire-escape knot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fire-escape%20knot. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fire-escape knot,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fire-escape%20knot.

Source: fire-escape knot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.