Grief knot

Grief knot
NamesGrief knot, What knot, Whatnot, Grass bend, Reeving-line bend
CategoryTrick
Category 2Bend
RelatedReef knot, Thief knot, Granny knot
ReleasingNon-jamming
Typical useUsed for jokes and tricks. It unrolls itself under a light load.
CaveatHighly insecure
ABoK#1208, #1406, #1407, #1459, #1490, #2579, #259

A grief knot (also what knot) is a knot which combines the features of a granny knot and a thief knot, producing a result which is not generally useful for working purposes. The word grief does not carry its usual meaning but is a portmanteau of granny and thief.

The grief knot resembles the granny knot, but tied so that the working ends come out diagonally from each other, whereas a granny knot's ends both come out on the same side. It unravels rather elegantly: as tension is applied, the ropes rotate like little cogs, each one twisting to feed the rope through the knot.

The whatnot. This is the same knot formation as the granny knot, but the ends are diagonally opposite each other. It is hardly a practical knot. But with the ends seized it is called the reeving line bend, and it also serves as an interesting trick.