Origin: Germanic Old English prefix
Bends has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
pain resulting from rapid change in pressure
"After surfacing too quickly from a deep dive, I had to lie down and wait out the bends before my arms stopped throbbing."
plural of bend
"The old captain inspected the new hull to ensure that the heavy oak bends were securely fastened before setting sail across the stormy sea."
The thickest and strongest planks in a wooden ship's side, wales.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of bend
"She bends her knees to tie her shoe without anyone noticing."