bowline

noun

bow·​line ˈbō-lən 

-ˌlīn

1

: a rope used to keep the weather edge of a square sail taut forward

2

: a knot used to form a loop that neither slips nor jams see knot illustration

Examples of bowline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. —Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2024

Another popular online figure who works outdoors is Adam Perry, a tree trimmer in England, who has racked up 245,000 followers on Instagram by posting videos of himself scaling trees with a chain saw and tying knots with names like double Portuguese bowline and clove hitch. —Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2023

So throw off the bowlines. —Jill Gleeson, Country Living, 10 Apr. 2023

Sailors are familiar with the clove hitch, bowline and cleat hitch. —Charles Choi, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2017

One of the most common knots, and handiest, is a bowline. —John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 9 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English boweline, probably from bowe bow + line

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bowline

noun

bow·​line ˈbō-lən 

-ˌlīn

1

: a rope used to keep the edge of a sail pulled forward

2

: a knot used for making a loop that will not slip or get stuck