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

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

An amateur cricket captain has crossed the white line and played his first matches since suffering a life-changing injury two years ago.

From BBC • May 4, 2023

We crossed a solid white line, milliseconds away from jumping off the road when, at last, the wheel jerked sharply to the right, and we hugged the road again.

From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2023

It does not have to be touching the white line.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 2, 2022

Out beyond where the headlands of the Concha almost met to form the harbor there was a white line of breakers and the open sea.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway