Fid vs. Did — What's the Difference?

A fid is a conical tool traditionally made of wood or bone. It is used to work with rope and canvas in marlinespike seamanship.

Past tense of do1.

A square bar used as a support for a topmast.

Past participle of do

A large tapering pin used to open the strands of a rope before splicing.

(nautical) A pointed tool without any sharp edges, used in weaving or knotwork to tighten and form up weaves or complex knots; used in sailing ships to open the strands of a rope before splicing. Compare marlinespike.

(nautical) A square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, to support the weight of the topmast (on a ship).

A plug of oakum for the vent of a gun.

A small thick piece of anything.

A wooden or metal bar or pin, used to support or steady anything.

The penis.

To support a topmast using a fid.

A square bar of wood or iron, used to support the topmast, being passed through a hole or mortise at its heel, and resting on the trestle trees.

A wooden or metal bar or pin, used to support or steady anything.

A pin of hard wood, tapering to a point, used to open the strands of a rope in splicing.

A block of wood used in mounting and dismounting heavy guns.