marlinspike noun.
['mɑ:lɪnspʌɪk] Also marlinespike. Orig. (now
rare) marlingspike
['mɑ:lɪŋ-].
E17.[App. from marling pres. pple of MARL verb2 + SPIKE noun2, the 1st elem. being later interpreted as MARLINE Cf. MARLIN noun2.]Nautical. A pointed iron tool used to lift the strands of rope in splicing, as a lever in marling, etc.
[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲