marlinespike

American  

[mahr-lin-spahyk] / ˈmɑr lɪnˌspaɪk /

Also marlinspike,

noun

Nautical.

1. a pointed iron implement used in separating the strands of rope in splicing, marling, etc.

---

marlinespike British  

/ ˈmɑːlɪnˌspaɪk, ˈmɑːlɪŋˌspaɪk /

noun

1. nautical a pointed metal tool used as a fid, spike, and for various other purposes

---

Etymology

Origin of marlinespike

1620–30; originally marling spike. See marl ², -ing ¹, spike ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

marlinespike

The Academy's first Cuban student, he graduated 126th among 467 in the class of 1920, and was more noted for his "silken line" with debutantes than for marlinespike seamanship.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week, when the imprisoned officer was paroled in time for Christmas, the Navy sank its marlinespike even deeper by dunning him for $3,777.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then, taking out a marlinespike, which had caught in the rigging somehow or other, he managed, after several blows on either side of the cask, to start the bung.

From The White Squall A Story of the Sargasso Sea by J. Schonberg

Although we had found no absolute explanation of the marlinespike, an obvious one suggested itself.

From The After House by Mary Roberts Rinehart

The ship's bell was struck with a muffled marlinespike as Stirling stood in patient idleness.

From The Ice Pilot by Henry Leverage