marline
noun
mar·line ˈmär-lən 
variants or less commonly marlin
: a small usually tarred line of two strands twisted loosely left-handed that is used especially for seizing and as a covering for wire rope
Word History
Etymology
Middle English merlyn, probably from Middle Low German marlinc, merlinc, from mēren to tie, moor
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above