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marline

American  
[mahr-lin] / ˈmɑr lɪn /
Or marlin,

noun

Nautical.
  1. small stuff of two-fiber strands, sometimes tarred, laid up left-handed.


marline British  
/ ˈmɑːlɪn, ˈmɑːlɪŋ /

noun

  1. nautical a light rope, usually tarred, made of two strands laid left-handed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of marline

First recorded in 1375–1425, marline is from the late Middle English word merlin. See marl 2, line 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His hand shook as he got a piece of marline out of his pocket, and made the water-logged pipe fast to the iron.

From Man Overboard! by Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion)

The eye may be finished neatly by whipping all around with yarn or marline, and will then appear as in Fig.

From Knots, Splices and Rope Work A Practical Treatise by Verrill, A. Hyatt (Alpheus Hyatt)

A frame is made after the manner of a saw-horse, with a double top, and tarred or marline twine is used for securing the strands of straw.

From Manual of Gardening (Second Edition) by Bailey, L. H. (Liberty Hyde)

Two or three knives, a spoon, a bit of hoop-iron, and a marline spike.

From Fast in the Ice Adventures in the Polar Regions by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)

"Somebody handed him a marline spike, sir," interrupted Hickey.

From The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers by Patchin, Frank Gee