1. (n.) A withe for fastening a gate.

2. (n.) An iron or pope thimble or grommet worked into or attached to the edges and corners of a sail; -- usually in the plural. The cringles are used for making fast the bowline bridles, earrings, etc.

air hole armhole blowhole boltrope bullet-hole bunghole canvas clew cloth crowd of sail deadeye earing eye eyelet foot fore-and-aft sail gasket grommet guide head keyhole knothole leech loop loophole luff manhole mousehole muslin peephole pigeonhole pinhole placket placket hole plain sail porthole press of sail punch-hole rag reduced sail reef point reefed sail sail spiracle square sail tap vent venthole