/boh"lin, -luyn'/ , n.
1. Also called bowline knot . a knot used to make a nonslipping loop on the end of a rope. See illus. under knot .
2. Naut. a rope made fast to the weather leech of a square sail, for keeping the sail as flat as possible when close-hauled.
3. on a bowline , Naut. sailing close-hauled.
4. on an easy bowline , Naut. close-hauled with sails well filled.
[ 1275-1325; ME bouline, equiv. to bou- (perh. boue BOW 2 ) + line LINE 1 ]