This nice simple knot has no function and, as a consequence, had no name.

Interestingly, some knots have a name outside of their use, this one however seems to depend totally on its application for a name. The knot has many configurations and many names, but if you don't know what each of the four ends are connected to, then you cannot tell which knot this is - interesting. This 'unassigned' knot has two parts. The white part is a loop or a bight or a Becket, so I will call it Bk for short. The second part (red part) clamps itself against the two white strands a bit like the tang of a belts buckle so I will call it Blt for short. For want of a better name then, this little knot is now a "Bk,Blt". It has two strands and four ends. If we now start to assign function to these ends we start to create working knots from the basic functional knot.

Possible setups for this knot include :-

One cord,

Two cords,

No loops,

One loop,

Two loops.

To assign the possible variations, we will use the following annotation :-

W = working part, i.e. it will be under tension and transferring force to or from the knot.

L = loop, i.e. two working parts sharing similar forces in the same direction.

E = free (or tying) end. In operation this end has no forces on it.

2 Cords, 0 Loops - Base Knot

1 Cord, 1 Loop - The Bowlines

2 Cords, 0 Loops - The Bends

2 Cords, 1 Loop - Beckets

2 Cords, 2 Loops

The tables show that (at least) seventeen possible configurations exist, unless you consider that any of the free ends could also be loaded, which bumps up the variations to 37, and of course, every one of these knots can be tied in its mirror configuration giving an available mix of at least 74 configurations.

[Of note, easily half of these knots are dangerous. If opposing tension exists on C-D and the tension on A drops, then the C-D loop can pull the A leg through the A-B loop, converting it to an overhand slip knot and allowing the C-D cord to pass through unobstructed.]

Half a dozen of these configurations, which are reasonably safe, have fallen into common use and have attracted names dependant upon that use, except perhaps for the "Manx" (my naming), only one variant of which seems to have been taken up in the form of the Eskimo Bwl.