ratline

[ rat-lin ]

/ ˈræt lɪn /

any of the small ropes or lines that traverse the shrouds horizontally and serve as steps for going aloft.

Also ratline stuff. three-stranded, right-laid, tarred hemp stuff of from 6 to 24 threads, used for ratlines, lashings, etc.

Origin of ratline

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier ratling, radelyng < ?

rationalize, rationing, rations, ratisbon, ratite, ratline, rato, ratoon, ratpack, rats, ratsbane

It was above the second ratline in the fore-shrouds, and fully six feet over the rail.

Farthest North |Fridtjof Nansen
In walking along her gun-deck, he accidentally ran against a ratline, by which one of her starboard guns was discharged.

The Naval History of the United States |Willis J. Abbot.
Collins, bring your party into this room; and do not forget to bring along that length of ratline that I told you to have ready.

A Middy of the Slave Squadron |Harry Collingwood
A musket-ball carried away a ratline above his head, just as he reached forward.

Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812 |James Barnes

Sakr-el-Bahr drank slowly, his eyes never leaving the vessel, whose every ratline was clearly defined by now in the pellucid air.

The Sea-Hawk |Raphael Sabatini

ratline

/ (ˈrætlɪn) /

nautical any of a series of light lines tied across the shrouds of a sailing vessel for climbing aloft

C15: of unknown origin