What does "stopper" mean?

Stopper: (Naut.) A short piece of rope having a knot at one or both ends, with a lanyard under the knot, -- used to secure something. Totten.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Bot.) A name to several trees of the genus Eugenia, found in Florida and the West Indies; as, the red stopper. See Eugenia. C. S. Sargent. Ring stopper (Naut.), a short rope or chain passing through the anchor ring, to secure the anchor to the cathead. -- Stopper bolt (Naut.), a large ringbolt in a ship's deck, to which the deck stoppers are hooked.
  2. 3.To close or secure with a stopper.

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