bitter end

the inboard end of a rope, cable, or chain

Origin: archaic bitter, turn of cable about a bitt

See bitter end in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A final, painful, or disastrous extremity.
  2. Nautical The inboard end of a chain, rope, or cable, especially the end of a rope or cable that is wound around a bitt.

Origin:

Origin: English bitter, bitt (bitt + -er1)

Origin: + end

Origin: . Sense 1, influenced by bitter

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