Which term describes the free end of a rope used to form a knot?

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The end of a rope you actively work with to form a knot is called the running end (also known as the working end). This is the free end you manipulate—wrap, pass through loops, and pull to tighten—while the rest of the rope, the standing part, stays relatively fixed under load. That distinction matters because knot instructions often specify “pull the running end,” meaning you’re using the free end designed for tying, not the part that remains taut on the object or line. A bight is simply a U-shaped bend in the rope, not the end you’re using to create the knot. The term long end isn’t the standard label for the end you tie with in most training materials—the precise term is running end. For example, when tying a knot, you’d weave and tighten using the running end, with the standing part remaining steady as the knot forms.