Tom fool's knot under and through the outer side of the opposite loop. Tom fool's knot The Tom fool's knot is sometimes considered a handcuff knot but is somewhat inferior for this purpose to the knot which usually bears that name. It is a good knot with which to commence a slightly fancy sheepshank. It is also used as a trick knot due to the speed with which it can be made. Tom fool's knot is believed to be the knot "epankylotos brokhos" described by the 1st Century Greek physician Heraklas. It is formed by making two loops, not exactly overlaying each other.
Stopper knot or passing back through a hole, block, or belay/rappel device. It then functions like a leash handle. Knots commonly used for this purpose are: The Chinese button knot and the Celtic button knot are decorative stopper knots. When a stopper knot is tied outside another knot and around the standing part it can also be called a backup knot. Tying the end around the standing part helps prevent the knot from unraveling by not allowing the end to slide back into the knot: a kind of insurance against failure of the knot. Examples of this usage are often seen in