Posted by Robert Dilley on March 18, 2002 at 17:06:46 from 216.211.68.96:
In Reply to: Re: Trolling for Euphroes posted by andy bolger on March 18, 2002 at -1:46:34:
My trusty Chambers says "euphroe, (naut) n the wooden block through which the lines of a crowfoot are rove. -- Also uphroe." The etymology is said to be Dutch, from jong vrouw, "young woman". As this is a family site, maybe we shouldn't explore that any further.
Interestingly, the same source does not give a definition (nautical, rather than botanical) for "crowfoot". However, the COD obliges with an "arrangement of small ropes for suspending awning".