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marline

or mar·lin, mar·ling

[mahr-lin]
noun Nautical.
  1. small stuff of two-fiber strands, sometimes tarred, laid up left-handed.

Origin of marline

First recorded in 1375–1425, marline is from the late Middle English word merlin. See marl2, line1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for marline

Historical Examples of marline

  • “I wish it would do so now,” said Mr Marline with much emphasis.

    The White Squall

    John Conroy Hutcheson

  • Mr Marline saw me on deck some time since and said I might remain.

    The White Squall

    John Conroy Hutcheson

  • “Belay that sea-lawyering, Marline,” interposed Captain Miles.

    The White Squall

    John Conroy Hutcheson

  • “I fancy it is the tail-end of the hurricane,” said Mr Marline.

    The White Squall

    John Conroy Hutcheson

  • “You are not more sorry than I am,” put in Mr Marline drily.

    The White Squall

    John Conroy Hutcheson

British Dictionary definitions for marline

marline

marlin less commonly marling (ˈmɑːlɪŋ)

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

Word Origin for marline

C15: from Dutch marlijn, from marren to tie + lijn line
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