[ noun ] a small usually tarred line of 2 strands <noun.artifact>
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.
Marline \Mar"line\, v. t. [F. merliner.] (Naut.) To wind marline around; as, to marline a rope.