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.
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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