What is serving and stay mouse?

Serving rope

SERVING is encircling a rope with line or spunyarn to keep it from rubbing and chafing.

To SERVE is to wind round spunyarn by means of a mallet, to prevent it from being rubbed. The materials used for the purpose are called service.

Mainstay with stay collar

MOUSE. A large knob, in the shape of a pear, formed on stays; also a smaller one round messengers, by intertwisting a small rope round the strands.

Mainstay with stay collar:

1. Stay eye at main masterhead;

2. MOUSE;

3. Spliced eye;

4. Leather parceling;

5. Stay;

6. Upper heart;

7. Lanyard;

8. Lower heart;

9. Stay collar from 18th centure, fully served

Model stay mouse

Model stay mouse:

1. Basic shape built up of wood;

2. Vertical threads;

3. Horizontal "darning"

Here is the tool to serve and make stay mouse.