'To part a cable' definitions:

Definition of 'To part a cable'

From: GCIDE

Part \Part\ (p[aum]rt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parted; p. pr. & vb. n. Parting.] [F. partir, L. partire, partiri, p. p. partitus, fr. pars, gen. partis, a part. See Part, n.] [1913 Webster]
1. To divide; to separate into distinct parts; to break into two or more parts or pieces; to sever. "Thou shalt part it in pieces." --Lev. ii. 6. [1913 Webster]
There, [celestial love] parted into rainbow hues. --Keble. [1913 Webster]
2. To divide into shares; to divide and distribute; to allot; to apportion; to share. [1913 Webster]
To part his throne, and share his heaven with thee. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
They parted my raiment among them. --John xix. 24. [1913 Webster]
3. To separate or disunite; to cause to go apart; to remove from contact or contiguity; to sunder. [1913 Webster]
The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. --Ruth i. 17. [1913 Webster]
While he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. --Luke xxiv. 51. [1913 Webster]
The narrow seas that part The French and English. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. Hence: To hold apart; to stand between; to intervene betwixt, as combatants. [1913 Webster]
The stumbling night did part our weary powers. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
5. To separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or secretion; as, to part gold from silver. [1913 Webster]
The liver minds his own affair, . . . And parts and strains the vital juices. --Prior. [1913 Webster]
6. To leave; to quit. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Since presently your souls must part your bodies. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
7. To separate (a collection of objects) into smaller collections; as, to part one's hair in the middle. [PJC]
To part a cable (Naut.), to break it.
To part company, to separate, as travelers or companions. [1913 Webster]