The absolute foremost section of a vessel's bow, where the port and starboard sides converge at the stem. In a more specific structural sense, it refers to the hawseholes, which are the heavy steel castings through which the anchor chains pass. Working in the eyes of the ship means being as far forward as possible, an area that experiences the most violent motion in heavy seas.
Heard on the job
Send a couple of deckhands up to the eyes to clear that fouled anchor chain.
Also heard as
- eyes of the ship
- hawsehole