Sep 14, 2014
#5 Ashley briefly lists this knot among #3-11 while criticizing the errors and poor naming choices in the 1866 “The Book of Knots” by ‘Tom Bowling’ (Available free from Google books). Ashley gives the English names “Bale Sling Hitch or Ring Hitch” for this knot. The general form is usually called the cow hitch, or lark’s head (from Bowling’s transliteration from French). It’s usually called a bale sling hitch specifically when being used to lift a bundle or object, and would usually have the shorter working end secured to the standing part.
The cow hitch, as we’ll see later, is a very ancient knot, often tied with a bight when using a closed loop (like a rubber band).