SG Heritage Dictionary

Marline [Verb] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A small line composed of two strands a little twisted, used for winding around ropes and cables, to prevent their being weakened by fretting.

Marline [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

To wind marline around; as, to marline a rope.

Marline-spike [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

A small iron like a large spike, used to open the bolt rope when the sail is to be sewed to it, etc.