BEND . (I) (From Old Eng. bendan), a bending or curvature, as in " the bend of a

river," or technically the ribs or " wales " of a ship . (2) (From Old Eng. bindan, to bind), a nautical term for a knot, the " cable bend," the " fisherman's bend." (3) (From the Old Fr. bende, a ribbon), a term of heraldry, signifying a diagonal band or stripe across a shield from the dexter chief to the sinister base; also in tanning, the half of a hide from which the thinner parts have been trimmed away, " bend-leather " being the thickest and best sole-leather .