As the name implies, a hawser was originally a heavy, vegetable fibre, cable-laid rope which was led through the hawsepipe for use in connection with the ship's anchors, or for towing.
Njengokuba igama lichaza, intambo enkulu yavela inzima, intsinga semifuno, intsontelo yokubophelela inqanewa yentambo ebekiweyo eyayibekiwe ngaphaya kwentambo enkulu yophayiphi esetyenziswa ukudibanisa inqanawa kuhliso lweankile okanye etsalweni.