ratline

noun

rat·​line ˈrat-lən 

: any of the small transverse ropes attached to the shrouds of a ship so as to form the steps of a rope ladder

—usually used in plural

Illustration of ratline

Examples of ratline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Barofsky claims that the bank did not fully investigate links to Nazi supporters or the possibility that the bank may have financed escape routes used by Nazis, known as ratlines, to flee to other countries after the war. —Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 18 Apr. 2023

For women artists, substance use is generally grouped under the larger umbrella of madness, historically a kind of ratline to institutionalization, often against their will, for women ranging from Zelda Fitzgerald to Britney Spears. —New York Times, 24 Mar. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English radelyng

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ratline

noun

rat·​line ˈrat-lən 

: any of the small cross ropes attached to the shrouds of a ship so as to form the steps of a rope ladder