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marlinespike

American

[mahr-lin-spahyk] / ˈmɑr lɪnˌspaɪk /

Also marlinspike,

noun

Nautical.

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

marlinespike British

/ ˈmɑːlɪnˌspaɪk, ˈmɑːlɪŋˌspaɪk /

noun

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of marlinespike

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

It was entirely possible, we agreed, that the marlinespike had been so disposed, as some seaman's resort in time of need.

From The After House by Rinehart, Mary Roberts

“Put your marlinespike against the pill and crack the coating on it,” urged Wiley.

From Lefty Locke Pitcher-Manager by Standish, Burt L.

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

From The After House by Rinehart, Mary Roberts

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023