SINCE 1828

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dragline

noun drag·line \ ˈdrag-ˌlīn \

Definition of dragline

1 :a line used in or for dragging

2 :an excavating machine in which the bucket is attached by cables and operates by being drawn toward the machine

3 :a strong stiff strand of silk produced by a spider especially to form the framework of its web and as a means of lowering itself from and returning to a height

Recent Examples of dragline from the Web

But, the dragline silk underwent permanent molecular deformation upon twisting.

— lakshmi supriya, Science | AAAS, "Scientists uncover trick to spider’s stealth," 14 July 2017
Hence Widmaier’s pride at having produced fifty ties, each of which contains the equivalent of ninety kilometres of dragline spider silk.

— nicola twilley, The New Yorker, "In the Future, We’ll All Wear Spider Silk," 12 Mar. 2017
Black widow dragline silk is one of the strongest ones.

— kim zetter, WIRED, "TED 2010 | Cheryl Hayashi: Smooth — and Strong — as Silk," 10 Feb. 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dragline.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dragline

1874

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