They are used as links for shackling the ends of three or four ropes or lengths of chain together; the triangular plates are usually known as monkey faces or shamrock plates.
Ziqheliswe ukudityaniswa ukwenzela kudibane iziphelo zentambo ezintathu okanye ezimbini okanye amandla amatsheyini edibene, iipleyiti ezingunxantathu zazika njengobuso benkawu.