Pelican hook
Appearance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C-%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0.png/220px-%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C-%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0.png)
A pelican hook is a piece of nautical rigging hardware
It is composed of a hinged link held closed by a circumferential link capable of being released under load. Small examples are held closed by hand while the retaining link is displaced while larger examples are hit with a hammer or sledge hammer[1][2] to release.
The asymmetric appearance of the two hinged pieces is similar in appearance to a pelican's beak. It is frequently used to secure ships' anchors and life raft canisters but has many other applications.[citation needed]
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- "Shiploading: A Picture-Dictionary of Shiploading Terms". The Navy Department Library. Retrieved 25 November 2016. Includes illustration of Pelican hook, under "Hooks".