bowline

noun

bow·line | \ ˈbō-lən ,

-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

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. 2017

These 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.