In reply to:

(think of the term floods applied to clothes..

of troy, from where did you pull the term 'floods'? I checked the thread throughout and couldn't find it.

Also, many thanks for the connection between the four-in-hands knot used by the horse drivers and the type of knot itself. I looked through several illustrations on Google showing how to tie the knot, but couldn't see why the knot would be four-in-hand at any point in the knot making! The knot in the reins is a crystal clear connection! And a practical solution for the driver!