marline

American  

[mahr-lin] / ˈmɑr lɪn /

Or marlin,

noun

Nautical.

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

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marline British  

/ ˈmɑːlɪn, ˈmɑːlɪŋ /

noun

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

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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

Boyce constructed a formidable battery of two guns made from stalks of sugar-cane, wound with marline and mounted upon small trucks.

From The History of Company A, Second Illinois Cavalry by Fletcher, Samuel H.

Dan cleared the table and washed the dishes with a celerity bewildering to the slow brain dulled by the marline spike.

From Killykinick by Waggaman, Mary T. (Mary Theresa)

"They did it with this, Sam," answered Dan, exhibiting the marline spike.

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

The next point to be considered is, that all the ``small stuffs'' which are used on board a ship— such as spun-yarn, marline, seizing-stuff, &c., &c.— are made on board.

From Two Years Before the Mast by Dana, Richard Henry

This chafing gear consists of worming, parcelling, roundings, battens, and service of all kinds,— rope-yarns, spun-yarn, marline, and seizing-stuffs.

From Two Years Before the Mast by Dana, Richard Henry