GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Marline (?), 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.
   
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   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.] (Zool.) (a) A tropic bird. (b) A jager, or skua gull.
   
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2.       
   Marline (?), v. t. [F. merliner.] (Naut.) To wind marline around; as, “to marline a rope”.
   
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