[boh-lin, -lahyn] 
| 1. | Also called bowline knot. a knot used to make a nonslipping loop on the end of a rope. |
| 2. | Nautical. a rope made fast to the weather leech of a square sail, for keeping the sail as flat as possible when close-hauled. |
| 3. | on a bowline, Nautical. sailing close-hauled. |
| 4. | on an easy bowline, Nautical. close-hauled with sails well filled. |
bow·line (bō'lĭn, -līn')  (click for larger image in new window) n.
[Middle English bouline, probably from Middle Danish bovline or Middle Low German bōlīne, both from Middle Low German bōch līne : bōch, bow; see bheug- in Indo-European roots + līne, line (from Latin līnea; see line1).] |
lɪn