this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2025
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[–] boatswain@infosec.pub 9 points 2 days ago

Pretty close! It's tar-soaked hemp fibers (rope traditionally being hemp), called oakum. Sometimes cotton under that for filling if needed. To me it still feels more about carefully easing out, particularly since paying out also has other uses that aren't rope related, like falling off to leeward after a tack.