bowline: Meaning and Definition of

bow•line

Pronunciation: (bō'lin, -līn"), [key]
— n.
  1. Also calleda knot used to make a nonslipping loop on the end of a rope. See illus. under
  2. a rope made fast to the weather leech of a square sail, for keeping the sail as flat as possible when close-hauled.
  3. sailing close-hauled.
  4. close-hauled with sails well filled.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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