clew v Cp OED ~ v 4 b fig 'wind up' (1867) from naut usage. Phr clew up: to cease (doing something); to complete or finish (an action, task, etc).
   [1923] 1946 PRATT 175 "The Cachalot": 'Clew up you gab!' / 'Let go that mast! / There'll be row enough when you get him fast.' 1938 MACDERMOTT 143 When the fishery was over, and the men had 'clewed up' with their merchant... [1952] 1965 PEACOCK (ed) i, 136 "High Times in Our Ship": He clewed up the voyage and went to get more. T 100-64 You had to be on the road seven o'clock in the morning and be on till six in the evening before you'd clew up to come back to where your camp was. 1972 MURRAY 256 Working like this ... when we clues up we won't have a copper to put on our eyes.

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