marline

noun

mar·​line ˈmär-lən 

variants or less commonly marlin

: a small usually tarred line of two strands twisted loosely left-handed that is used especially for seizing and as a covering for wire rope

Word History

Etymology

Middle English merlyn, probably from Middle Low German marlinc, merlinc, from mēren to tie, moor

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above