Marline spike

Marline spike
Marline Mar"line, n. [LG. marlien, marling, or D. marling, marlijn, fr. D. marren to tie, prob. akin to E. moor, v., and lijn line: cf.F. merlin. See {Moor}, v., {Line}.] (Naut.) A small line composed of two strands a little twisted, used for winding around ropes and cables, to prevent their being weakened by fretting. [1913 Webster]

{Marline spike}, {Marling spike} (Naut.), an iron tool tapering to a point, used to separate the strands of a rope in splicing and in marling. It has an eye in the thick end to which a lanyard is attached. See {Fid}. [Written also {marlin spike}]

{Marline-spike bird}. [The name alludes to the long middle tail feathers.] (Zo["o]l.) (a) A tropic bird. (b) A jager, or skua gull. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Marline-spike bird — Marline Mar line, n. [LG. marlien, marling, or D. marling, marlijn, fr. D. marren to tie, prob. akin to E. moor, v., and lijn line: cf.F. merlin. See {Moor}, v., {Line}.] (Naut.) A small line composed of two strands a little twisted, used for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • marline-spike bird — Jager Ja ger, n. [G. j[ a]ger a hunter, a sportsman. Cf. {Yager}.] [Written also {jaeger}.] 1. (Mil.) A sharpshooter. See {Yager}. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) Any species of gull of the genus {Stercorarius}. Three species occur on the Atlantic… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • marline-spike — marˈline spike noun A spike for separating the strands of a rope in splicing (also marˈlinspike) • • • Main Entry: ↑marline …   Useful english dictionary

  • Marline — Mar line, n. [LG. marlien, marling, or D. marling, marlijn, fr. D. marren to tie, prob. akin to E. moor, v., and lijn line: cf.F. merlin. See {Moor}, v., {Line}.] (Naut.) A small line composed of two strands a little twisted, used for winding… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • marline — noun A light rope, used to prevent the ends of larger ropes from fraying. A young man, who has been the whole voyage out of irons, first on account of a large ulcer, and since for his seeming good behaviour, gave them a large marline spike down… …   Wiktionary

  • marline — n. Naut. a thin line of two strands. Phrases and idioms: marline spike = MARLINSPIKE. Etymology: ME f. Du. marlijn f. marren bind + lijn LINE(1) …   Useful english dictionary

  • marlin spike — Marline Mar line, n. [LG. marlien, marling, or D. marling, marlijn, fr. D. marren to tie, prob. akin to E. moor, v., and lijn line: cf.F. merlin. See {Moor}, v., {Line}.] (Naut.) A small line composed of two strands a little twisted, used for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Marling spike — Marline Mar line, n. [LG. marlien, marling, or D. marling, marlijn, fr. D. marren to tie, prob. akin to E. moor, v., and lijn line: cf.F. merlin. See {Moor}, v., {Line}.] (Naut.) A small line composed of two strands a little twisted, used for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Marling spike — Marl Marl, v. t. [See {Marline}.] (Naut.) To cover, as part of a rope, with marline, marking a pecular hitch at each turn to prevent unwinding. [1913 Webster] {Marling spike}. (Naut.) See under {Marline}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • marlinspike — n. Naut. a pointed iron tool used to separate strands of rope or wire. Etymology: orig. app. marling spike f. marl fasten with marline (f. Du. marlen frequent. of MDu. marren bind) + ING(1) + SPIKE(1) * * * marlin(g)spike see marline spike …   Useful english dictionary

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