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

Serving is merely wrapping the rope with spun yarn, marline, or other small stuff, C, Fig.

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

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)

Afterwards he had peddled his gear little by little, dining one day off a riding-light, going to a theatre the next on two marline spikes and a sister-block, and so on.

From The Recipe for Diamonds by Hyne, Charles John Cutcliffe Wright

These had been roasted in the fire until tough and flexible, and when thus treated they formed a good substitute for the white sailor's marline or the cow-boy's picket rope.

From Cruisings in the Cascades A Narrative of Travel, Exploration, Amateur Photography, Hunting, and Fishing by Shields, George O.

Immediately abaft the forecastle ladder was the cable stage where hawsers, cable-chains, tar-barrels, tar-pots, tar-brushes, marline spikes, serving-mallets, cork-fenders, water-casks and other spare gear were stowed.

From The Shellback's Progress In the Nineteenth Century by Runciman, Walter