Cringle

A short piece of rope spliced into and forming an eye on the bolt rope on the luff, head, tack, clew, and leach of gaff sails, into the head, foot, and leaches of square sails, and into the head, tack, and clew of jib-headed sails. An iron ring, called a thimble, is contained within the eye to prevent chafing. See Reef Cringles.)