1. n. [Drilling]

A set of pulleys used to gain mechanical advantage in lifting or dragging heavy objects. There are two large blocks on a drilling rig: the crown block and the traveling block. Each has several sheaves that are rigged with steel drilling cable or line such that the traveling block may be raised (or lowered) by reeling in (or out) a spool of drilling line on the drawworks.

See related terms: sheave