Ratlines

Ratlines

:"See Ratlines (history) for escape routes of WWII war criminals."

Ratlines, pronounced "rattlin's", are lengths of thin line tied between the shrouds of a sailing ship to form a ladder. They are found almost invariably on square rigged ships whose crews must go aloft to stow the square sails, but may also be present on larger fore-and-aft rigged vessels in order to make repairs or conduct a lookout from a higher position.

Sometimes, especially on the lower shrouds, they are made of wood rather than rope, in which case they are occasionally known as "ratbars" instead. Wooden ratlines can have holes bored through them to guide and organise lines between the deck and the rig; these would usually be clewlines and buntlines that are not under much load.


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  • Ratlines — Rat lines, Ratlins Rat lins (r[a^]t l[i^]nz), n. pl. [Of uncertain origin.] (Naut.) The small transverse ropes attached to the shrouds and forming the steps of a rope ladder. [Written also {ratlings}, and {rattlings}.] Totten. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ratlines — Este artículo o sección necesita referencias que aparezcan en una publicación acreditada, como revistas especializadas, monografías, prensa diaria o páginas de Internet fidedignas. Puedes añadirlas así o avisar …   Wikipedia Español

  • Ratlines —    A number of leading Nazis involved in the mass murder of Jews, such as Walter Rauff and Adolf Eichmann, were able to escape from Germany at the close of World War II through the so called ratlines. This was an escape route that led them to… …   Historical dictionary of the Holocaust

  • Ratlines (World War II) — Ratlines were a system of escape routes for Nazis and other fascists fleeing Europe at the end of World War II. These escape routes mainly led toward havens in South America, particularly Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile. Other… …   Wikipedia

  • Ratlines (history) — Ratlines were systems of escape routes for Nazis and other fascists fleeing Europe at the end of World War II. These escape routes mainly led toward safe havens in South America, particularly Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Chile. Other… …   Wikipedia

  • ratlines — rætlɪn n. horizontal piece of rope that connects the vertical ropes and forms a ladder (on ships) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • ratlines — [ ratlɪnz] plural noun a series of small rope lines fastened across a sailing ship s shrouds like the rungs of a ladder, used for climbing the rigging. Origin ME: of unknown origin …   English new terms dictionary

  • ratlines — …   Useful english dictionary

  • ratlings — Ratlines Rat lines, Ratlins Rat lins (r[a^]t l[i^]nz), n. pl. [Of uncertain origin.] (Naut.) The small transverse ropes attached to the shrouds and forming the steps of a rope ladder. [Written also {ratlings}, and {rattlings}.] Totten. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ratlins — Ratlines Rat lines, Ratlins Rat lins (r[a^]t l[i^]nz), n. pl. [Of uncertain origin.] (Naut.) The small transverse ropes attached to the shrouds and forming the steps of a rope ladder. [Written also {ratlings}, and {rattlings}.] Totten. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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