spring line

noun

: a line led diagonally from the bow or stern of a ship to a point on a wharf and made fast to help keep the ship from moving fore and aft while docked

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spring line was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near spring line

spring lily

spring line

spring-load

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Spring line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spring%20line. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of cavalcade

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games