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Gasket

1. A line or band used to lash a furled sail securely. Sea gaskets are common lines; harbor gaskets are plaited and decorated lines or bands. Called also casket.

2. (Science: mechanics) The plaited hemp used for packing a piston, as of the steam engine and its pumps. Any ring or washer of packing.

Origin: cf. F. Garcette, It. Gaschetta, sp. Cajeta caburn, garceta reef point.