marline

Etymology

From Middle English merlin, from Middle Low German marling, from Middle Dutch marlijn (“cord”), from marlen (“secure, fasten”), frequentative of maren (“to moor”), from Proto-Germanic *mairōną (“to moor, fasten to”), from Proto-Indo-European *mer-.

noun

1. A light all-purpose cord commonly used to bind the end of a larger rope, to prevent fraying.
   1749 (Sunday 26th May), John Newton's journal A young man, who has been the whole voyage out of irons, first on account of a large ulcer, and since for his seeming good behaviour, gave them a large marline spike down the gratings, but was happily seen by one of the people.
2. Twine used similarly.

verb

1. (nautical) To wind marline around.
   to marline a rope