A nautical term meaning to bind tightly with rope or cable, especially to secure the frame of a ship.
From Dutch 'affrappen' or related to Old Norse roots meaning 'to bind.' This specialized maritime vocabulary developed among seafaring communities in Northern Europe and became standard in English naval terminology.
When ships cross the equator and experience extreme temperature changes, the wood expands and contracts—affrapping techniques were crucial to keep the hull from splitting apart in these stress conditions.
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