marlin

1 of 2

noun (1)

mar·​lin ˈmär-lən 

: any of several large marine billfishes (genera Makaira and Kajikia) that are notable sport fishes

marline

2 of 2

noun (2)

mar·​line ˈmär-lən 

variants or less commonly marlin

: a small usually tarred line of two strands twisted loosely left-handed that is used especially for seizing and as a covering for wire rope

Examples of marlin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Big Rock tournament organizers announced the historic catch on Facebook and shared plenty of photos of the marlin, along with the celebration that followed. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2026

The exhibit features tools used in sailmaking, such as palms, fids, commanders, awls, and marlin spikes. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026

From over in Florida’s Dry Tortugas, there’s four-marlins salad with Key West pink shrimp and Key lime-coconut bars. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

It’s been 40 years since Guy Harvey printed the first T-shirt of a marlin at an Oakland Park shop that would spark a multimillion-dollar apparel business and support his other mission at the Guy Harvey Foundation. —Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for marlinspike; from the appearance of its beak

Noun (2)

Middle English merlyn, probably from Middle Low German marlinc, merlinc, from mēren to tie, moor

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1917, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing marlin

• blue marlin
• white marlin

Rhymes for marlin

• carlin
• macfarlane

Kids Definition

marlin

noun

mar·​lin ˈmär-lən 

: any of several large saltwater sport fishes related to sailfishes