ratline
1
9.9
A short horizontal rope tied between mast ropes to make a ladder on a ship
- noun
- /ˈrætˌlaɪn/
- Specialized
:
escalera de jarcia
- Using the ratlines, the sailors climbed to the top of the mast.
Examples
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All men up the ratlines!
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The ratlines are an important piece of history that has been largely suppressed.
Blog text (12) -
The crew quickly ascended the ratline to reach the sails.
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He steadied himself on the ratline as he prepared to adjust the sail.
Synonyms
line
vsratline
∞
1.1
A long thin rope or wire used to carry things
is a specific small horizontal rope making ladder steps between shrouds
9.9
A small rope fixed between the side ropes of a ship to make steps for climbing the mast
has identical meaning but uses the other spelling form
7.7
A rope people hold to climb a steep or slippery slope
forms fixed horizontal steps between shrouds for climbing the rigging
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ratline is easy to remember as rat + line: think of a small 'line' or rope that even a rat could run along like a ladder. On old ships these short horizontal ropes formed a ladder in the rigging for sailors to climb, which is why ratline means that small rope ladder.