SINCE 1828
bowline
noun
bow·line
| \ ˈbō-lən
, -ˌlīn\
, -ˌlīn\
Definition of bowline
1
: a rope used to keep the weather edge of a square sail taut forward
2
: a knot used to form a loop that neither slips nor jams — see knot illustration
Examples of bowline in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Connect with the folks at Southernmost Sailing School, who can show you your bowline from your clove hitch and take you out to see the dolphins. — The Editors, Outside Online, "The Best Road Trips in North America," 10 June 2019 The bowline knot, a simple and elegant configuration, never slips or comes loose under any strain or load. — Monica Corcoran Harel, Marie Claire, "I Signed My Husband Up for a Couples Survival Course," 23 May 2017 Knots are useful in everyday life and specific kinds of knots are suitable for specific tasks — bowlines, cleats, hitches and nooses all hold things together in different ways. — Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times, "Eight Crossings and 192 Atoms Long: the Tightest Knot Ever Tied," 16 Jan. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bowline.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for bowline
bowline
noun
bow·line
| \ ˈbō-lən
\
\
Kids Definition of bowline
: a knot used for making a loop that will not slip
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