The half hitch is a simple hitch knot, where the working end of a line is brought over and under the standing part. Insecure on its own, it is a valuable component of a wide variety of useful and reliable hitches, bends, and knots.
Securing an additional single hitch to the rope's standing part produces the related knot two half-hitches.
The knot is attractive to the eye and so is used decoratively for French whipping which is also known as half hitch whipping.
See also
- List of knots
- Buntline hitch