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bow·line

(bōlĭn, -līn′)

1. Nautical A rope attached to the weather leech of a square sail to hold the leech forward when sailing close-hauled.

2. A knot forming a loop that does not slip but that can be untied easily.

[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 the Appendix of Indo-European roots + līne, line (from Latin līnea; see LINE¹).]

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bowline

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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