| Marlin | n. (Zool.) The American great marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa). Applied also to the red-breasted godwit (Limosa haematica). [ 1913 Webster ] 2. [ from marlin spike, the shape of its bill. ] Any of several marine billfishes of the genera Makaira and Tetrapturus, popular as game in sport fishing. [ PJC ]
Hook-billed marlin, a curlew. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Marline | n. [ LG. marlien, marling, or D. marling, marlijn, fr. D. marren to tie, prob. akin to E. moor, v., and lijn line: cf.F. merlin. See Moor, v., Line. ] (Naut.) A small line composed of two strands a little twisted, used for winding around ropes and cables, to prevent their being weakened by fretting. [ 1913 Webster ]
Marline spike,
Marling spike (Naut.), an iron tool tapering to a point, used to separate the strands of a rope in splicing and in marling. It has an eye in the thick end to which a lanyard is attached. See Fid. [ Written also marlin spike ] --
Marline-spike bird. [ The name alludes to the long middle tail feathers. ] (Zool.) (a) A tropic bird. (b) A jager, or skua gull. [ 1913 Webster ]
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