noun
- a pointed metal tool used by sailors to separate strands of rope or wire
Usage: nautical
Examples
- The sailor used a marlinspike to splice the thick rope.
- Every rigger keeps a marlinspike in their tool kit.
- She worked the marlinspike between the rope strands to loosen them.
- The old marlinspike had a wooden handle worn smooth by years of use.
- Without a marlinspike, untying the knot would be nearly impossible.
- The ship’s crew relied on their marlinspikes for rope maintenance.