DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
Marl v. t. Naut. To cover, as part of a rope, with marline, marking a pecular hitch at each turn to prevent unwinding.
Marling spike. Naut. See under Marline.
Mar·line n. 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.