Definitions

1. noun

a ball of thread or yarn used by sailors to indicate the direction of the wind or to mark the end of a rope, typically made by unraveling a length of twine or thread and then twisting the end back into a small ball

“The sailors used a clew to mark the end of the anchor rope.”

2. noun

a clue or hint

“The detective finally found the clew that cracked the case.”

3. verb

to untwist or unravel (a thread or yarn) and twist the end back into a ball

“She began to clew the thread, carefully twisting it into a neat ball.”