sennit

[ sen-it ]

/ ˈsɛn ɪt /

a flat, braided cordage, formed by plaiting strands of rope yarn or other fiber, used as small stuff aboard ships.

braided straw or grass used in making hats.

Also sin·net [sin-it] /ˈsɪn ɪt/.

Origin of sennit

First recorded in 1760–70; origin uncertain

"A very valuable cargo, sir," observed Mr. Sennit, a little drily.

Miles Wallingford |James Fenimore Cooper
I felt the circumstance of being left under the command of such a man as Sennit almost as sensibly as I felt the loss of my ship.

Miles Wallingford |James Fenimore Cooper
French sennit is made with an even number, taken over and under every other time.

The Seaman's Friend |Richard Henry Dana
Sennit struck me as being a much more difficult subject to get along with.

Miles Wallingford |James Fenimore Cooper

Nor is production of sewed straw hats confined to those made of sennit braids; hats are made of other braids as well.

Men's Sewed Straw Hats |United States Tariff Commission

sennit

/ (ˈsɛnɪt) /

a flat braided cordage used on ships

plaited straw, grass, palm leaves, etc, as for making hats

C17: of unknown origin