white line

American  

noun

1. a stripe of white paint, tiles, or the like, that marks the center or outer edge of a road.

2. a white layer in a horse's hoof.

3. any blank or white part, line, stripe, or margin.

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white line British  

noun

1. a line or strip of white in the centre of a road to separate traffic going in different directions

2. a white lamination in the hoof of a horse

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Etymology

Origin of white line

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

white line

Like sticky notes, rolling suitcases and the yellow first-down line in football, the solid white line on highways now sounds obvious.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

"When he crosses the white line, he is a very different person," says his former Barcelona team-mate Cesc Fabregas in the BBC iPlayer documentary Rivals: Messi vs Ronaldo.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

“After the click, the video display shut down with only a white line visible to crew members.”

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 28, 2023

Beyond lie the turquoise and azure waters of the lagoon, a white line of surf at the reef, cumulus clouds on the horizon moving as stately as galleons.

From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2023

The parting in his hair was a white line straight down the middle of the scalp, so straight it could only have been made with a ruler.

From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl