The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hawse \Hawse\ (h[add]z or h[add]s; 277), n. [Orig. a hawse hole,
   or hole in the bow of the ship; cf. Icel. hals, h[=a]ls,
   neck, part of the bows of a ship, AS. heals neck. See
   Collar, and cf. Halse to embrace.]
   1. A hawse hole. --Harris.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Naut.)
      (a) The situation of the cables when a vessel is moored
          with two anchors, one on the starboard, the other on
          the port bow.
      (b) The distance ahead to which the cables usually extend;
          as, the ship has a clear or open hawse, or a foul
          hawse; to anchor in our hawse, or athwart hawse.
      (c) That part of a vessel's bow in which are the hawse
          holes for the cables.
          [1913 Webster]

   Athwart hawse. See under Athwart.

   Foul hawse, a hawse in which the cables cross each other,
      or are twisted together.

   Hawse block, a block used to stop up a hawse hole at sea;
      -- called also hawse plug.

   Hawse piece, one of the foremost timbers of a ship, through
      which the hawse hole is cut.

   Hawse plug. Same as Hawse block (above).

   To come in at the hawse holes, to enter the naval service
      at the lowest grade. [Cant]

   To freshen the hawse, to veer out a little more cable and
      bring the chafe and strain on another part.
      [1913 Webster] hawsehole