chafing gear (chafing ger)

Naut., mats or other soft substances fastened on the rigging, spars, etc., to prevent chafing. Wherever any of the numberle ropes or the yards are chafing or wearing upon the rigging, there chafing - gear , as it is called, must be put on. This chafing - gear consists of worming, parcelling, roundings, battens, and service of all kinds-rope-yarns, spun-yarn, marline, and seizing stuffs. R. H. Dana , Jr. , Before the Mast, p. 15.