Monkey's Fist

A monkey's fist or monkey paw is a type of knot, so named because it looks somewhat like a small bunched fist or paw. It is tied at the end of a rope to serve as a weight, making it easier to throw, and also as an ornamental knot. This type of weighted rope can be used as a hand-to-hand weapon, called a slungshot by sailors.

It was also used in the past as an anchor in rock climbing, by stuffing it into a crack.
It is still sometimes used today in sandstone, as in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Germany.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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