fishing line

noun

: a long line or cord attached to a hook and used for fishing

also : the type of line designed for this purpose

a length of fishing line

—used specifically for a strong, usually monofilament cord made from a polymer (such as nylon or Dacron)

… is held firm in the pot by plaster of paris and covered with sphagnum moss bound with clear fishing line.

—Patricia Leigh Brown

Just about any string, cord or thread will do for a kite line, but because the best line supplied adequate strength with minimal wind resistance and weight, a thin, strong line is clearly better than a thick, weak one. Monofilament fishing line has both qualities, but many kiters shun it for the same reason fishermen curse it: it gets hopelessly tangled up in itself.

—Robert Kimber

Examples of fishing line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Volunteers can adopt a fishing line recovery bin in their area. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2024

Volunteers needed to recover fishing line: Volusia County needs environmentally minded volunteers to participate in the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2024

In previous years working with Wild Wings, the center saw birds of prey injured from hitting windows; hit by vehicles; shot by pellet or BB guns; sickened by pesticides or rat poison; or stuck in glue traps, barbed wire or fishing line. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024

Read Next World Whale had fishing lines ‘embedded’ into body. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above