Definition of "marline" [mar•line]

• Nautical A light rope made of two loosely twisted strands. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "A rope was lowered with a hook upon the end of it; to the hook a canvas bag was lashed with marline."
• "The British were still seven to one; their carronades, loaded with marline-spikes, swept the gun-deck, of which we had possession, and decimated our little force; when a rifle-ball from the shrouds of the"
• "If he thinks there's even a chance you're going to lay for him with a marline spike, he'll back off of you."