What term refers to a nautical rope?

• A. Rope
• B. Cable
• C. Wire
• D. Line

Answer: (D)

In sailing, the term line is used for the ropes that control sails and rigging. A line encompasses halyards, sheets, and other control ropes you haul on or run through blocks to adjust sail trim and boat handling. It’s the specific nautical word for a rope used in operating the vessel, as opposed to metal or thicker, non-sailing connections.

Rope is a general term and could refer to any fiber rope, but the customary sailing term for these control ropes is line. Cable and wire refer to metal strands used for heavy-duty or standing rigging, not the sail-handling lines.