Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An obsolete form of merlin.
  • noun An obsolete form of marline.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of marl.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Allen, who introduced 'marling' in Norfolk, were all country-gentlemen, and it is from them that he expects improvement.

    The English Utilitarians, Volume I. Leslie Stephen 1868

  • Nothing in him; no substance, madam; I knew him as a youngster, and I could have tossed him on a marling-spike.

    Mary Anerley Richard Doddridge 2004

  • One of the older missionaries frowned at this intelligence, marling it down as one more proof of their doctor's essentially trivial attitude toward life, but his adverse opinion was not reported to his companions, because from a point forward of the Thetis a new board swept into view, and this one bore not a mere swimmer, but a nymph, a nude symbolization of all the pagan islands in the seven seas.

    Hawaii Michener, James 1959

  • Transverse notches are cut in the circumference of the disks to the bottom of the score, for the convenience of marling the wad before taking it off the mould.

    Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance

  • He deprecates paring and burning as exhaustive of the vegetable juices, advises winter fallowing and marling, and affirms that "there is no superficies of earth, how poor soever it may be, but has in its own bowels something or other for its own improvement."

    The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 13, No. 77, March, 1864 Various

  • The men gather all theirs into a tuft at the poll, where it is secured with a silk marling, the extreme ends forming a sort of fringe, like a plume of feathers.

    In Eastern Seas Or, the Commission of H.M.S. 'Iron Duke,' flag-ship in China, 1878-83 J. J. Smith

  • But Garry was mistaken in this diagnosis of his, as events turned out; but, ere he could say another word, just then as the colonel was going to make a reply to him, the skipper hammered on the deck with a marling - spike to attract attention and give a hail at the very top of his voice that made us all jump, it was so loud and unexpected.

    The Ghost Ship A Mystery of the Sea Henry [Illustrator] Austin

  • Well, we got within reach of England when the wind began to blow, and before I could hitch myself up with a marling-spike, every man Jack of us was ready for Davy Jones's locker!

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, October 3, 1891 Various

  • "Haul down my yard-arm with a marling-spike!" cried the Artist.

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, May 9, 1891 Various

  • But, I say, I do know something of yachting, and that isn't the way to brace up the marling-spike to the fokesell yard with the main jibboom three points in a wind with some East in it!

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, July 4, 1891 Various

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