Marling

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A process of wrapping or binding a rope, cable, or line with small twine or cordage to prevent fraying and secure its strands; a method used in nautical or climbing contexts for reinforcement and maintenance
2. The act of covering the ends or entire length of a rope or similar material with a thin wrapping of small thread-like fibers to stabilize and protect it from unraveling during use
3. A technique involving the twisting or fastening of fine twine around the surface of a larger rope or cord to maintain its integrity and enhance durability in practical applications

Etymology: Sailors use the verb "marl" for binding a rope or sail with a light line of cord, and it takes its name from "marline," a small tarred line used for this purpose. "Marline" came into English from Dutch, where the word was "marlijn," and the verb was later formed from it. The result is a nautical term with no connection to the soil. The spelling is shared with "marl," the crumbly, lime-rich clay that farmers spread on fields to improve them. That word reached English from Old French "marle," which came from Late Latin "margila," a diminutive of "marga." The two words only look alike by coincidence.