BEND, (I) a bending or curvature (Old Eng. bendan) as in "the bend of a river," or technically the ribs or "wales" of a ship. (2) A nautical term for a knot (Old Eng. bindan, to bind) . (3 ) A term of heraldry (q.v.) signifying a diagonal band or stripe across a shield from the dexter chief to the sinister base (Old Fr. bende, a ribbon) . In tanning, the half of a hide from which the thinner parts have been trimmed away, "bendleather" being the thickest and best sole-leather.