bowline

[ boh-lin, -lahyn ]
/ ˈboʊ lɪn, -ˌlaɪn /

noun

Also called bowline knot. a knot used to make a nonslipping loop on the end of a rope.
Nautical. a rope made fast to the weather leech of a square sail, for keeping the sail as flat as possible when close-hauled.

Idioms for bowline

    on a bowline, Nautical. sailing close-hauled.
    on an easy bowline, Nautical. close-hauled with sails well filled.

Origin of bowline

1275–1325; Middle English bouline, equivalent to bou- (perhaps boue bow2) + line line1

Example sentences from the Web for bowline

British Dictionary definitions for bowline

bowline
/ (ˈbəʊlɪn) /

noun nautical

a line for controlling the weather leech of a square sail when a vessel is close-hauled
on a bowline beating close to the wind
a knot used for securing a loop that will not slip at the end of a piece of rope

Word Origin for bowline

C14: probably from Middle Low German bōlīne, equivalent to bow ³ + line 1