Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Clew \Clew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. & vb. n. {Clewing}.] [Cf. D.
   kluwenen. See {Clew}, n.]
   1. To direct; to guide, as by a thread. [Obs.]

            Direct and clew me out the way to happiness. --Beau.
                                                  && Fl.

   2. (Naut.) To move of draw (a sail or yard) by means of the
      clew garnets, clew lines, etc.; esp. to draw up the clews
      of a square sail to the yard.

   {To clew down} (Naut.), to force (a yard) down by hauling on
      the clew lines.

   {To clew up} (Naut.), to draw (a sail) up to the yard, as for
      furling.

Clew \Clew\, Clue \Clue\, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS.
   cleowen, cliwen, clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen,
   OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G. dim. kleuel, kn["a]uel, and perch.
   to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor.
   Perch. akin to E. claw. [root]26. Cf. {Knawel}.]
   1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself.

            Untwisting his deceitful clew.        --Spenser.

   2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful
      or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the
      solution of a mystery.

            The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the
            vast and intricate maze of countinental politics,
            was in his hands.                     --Macaulay.

   3. (Naut.)
      (a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner
           of a fore-and-aft sail.
      (b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail.
      (c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock
           is suspended.

   {Clew garnet} (Naut.), one of the ropes by which the clews of
      the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the
      lower yards.

   {Clew line} (Naut.), a rope by which a clew of one of the
      smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or
      royal, is run up to its yard.

   {Clew-line block} (Naut.), The block through which a clew
      line reeves. See Illust. of {Block}.

Source : WordNet®

clew
     n 1: a ball of yarn or cord or thread
     2: evidence that helps to solve a problem [syn: {clue}, {cue}]

clew
     v : roll into a ball [syn: {clue}]