granny knot

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gran′ny knot′, 

1. Clothing, Naval Terms an incorrect version of a square knot in which the bights cross each other in the wrong direction next to the end, so as to produce a knot that is insecure. See illus. under knot. 

Also, gran′ny's knot′. Also called lubber's knot. 

• so called in contempt 1850–55

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

granny knot, granny's knot noun

1. a reef knot with the ends crossed the wrong way, making it liable to slip or jam