1. pointed metal tools used by sailors to separate strands of rope or wire
Usage: nautical; plural form

Examples

• The sailor used marlinspikes to splice the thick rope.
• Several marlinspikes hung from hooks in the ship’s rigging area.
• The crew kept their marlinspikes sharp for working with cable.
• Old marlinspikes were displayed in the maritime museum.
• He learned to handle marlinspikes during his naval training.
• The bosun distributed marlinspikes to the deck crew.