bowline (naut.) rope connecting the weather side of a sail with the bow. XIII (in ONF. and AN. boeline XII–XIII). — MLG. bōlīne, MDu. boechlijne, f. boeg BOW3 + lijne LINE1.
So bowsprit spar running out from the stem of a vessel. XIII. — (M)LG. bōgsprēt, MDu. boechspriet (see SPRIT).

bow·line / ˈbōlin; ˈbōˌlīn/ • n. 1. a rope attached to the weather leech of a square sail and leading forward, thus helping the ship sail nearer the wind.2. a nonbinding knot for forming a nonslipping nonjamming loop at the end of a rope.