ratline

or rat·lin

[ rat-lin ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. any of the small ropes or lines that traverse the shrouds horizontally and serve as steps for going aloft.
2. Also ratline stuff. three-stranded, right-laid, tarred hemp stuff of from 6 to 24 threads, used for ratlines, lashings, etc.

ratline

/ ˈrætlɪn /

noun

1. nautical any of a series of light lines tied across the shrouds of a sailing vessel for climbing aloft

Word History and Origins

Origin of ratline¹

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier ratling, radelyng < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of ratline¹

C15: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

For women artists, substance use is generally grouped under the larger umbrella of madness, historically a kind of ratline to institutionalization, often against their will, for women ranging from Zelda Fitzgerald to Britney Spears.

From New York Times

Philippe Sands’ ‘The Ratline’ is a Nazi-hunter novel with a unique premise: Sands tries to prove to the Nazi’s son that his father wasn’t a ‘good Nazi.’

From Los Angeles Times

Philippe Sands’ ‘The Ratline’ is a Nazi-hunter novel with a unique premise: Sands tries to prove to the Nazi’s son that his father wasn’t a ‘good Nazi.’

From Los Angeles Times

Another former SS officer involved in the massacre, Erich Priebke, had escaped via the Ratline to Argentina, where he was arrested, extradited to Italy and also convicted.

From New York Times

He had intended to flee to South America via the so-called “Ratline,” the clandestine network that helped many prominent Nazis evade justice with the aid of Catholic Church officials, some perhaps even inside the Vatican.

From New York Times