Bight (knot)

In knot tying, a bight is a curved section or slack part between the two ends of a rope, string, or yarn.

[2] Sources differ on whether an open loop or U-shaped curve in a rope qualifies as a bight.

[4] However, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Knots (2002) states: "Any section of line that is bent into a U-shape is a bight.

Specifically this means that the knot can be formed without access to the ends of the rope.

For example, the clove hitch can be made "in the bight" if it is being slipped over the end of a post but not if being cast onto a closed ring, which requires access to an end of the rope.