Standard Lemma guide

ratline

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈɹætlɪn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The rope or similar material used to make cross-ropes on a ship.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any of the cross ropes between the shrouds, which form a net-like ropework, allowing sailors to climb up towards the top of the mast.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A system of escape routes for Nazis and other fascists fleeing Europe in the aftermath of World War II.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical, in-plural, often

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

(nautical) a small horizontal rope between the shrouds of a sailing ship; they form a ladder for climbing aloft

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ratlin

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: line

History

Etymology

Apparently a corruption of raddling by folk-etymological reanalysis as rat + line.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 繩梯 /绳梯 (shéngtī) — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • Finnish: väylinki — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • French: enfléchure — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • German: Webeleine — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • German: Webleine — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • Hebrew: חֲוַק חֶבֶל (khavak khevel) — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • Hebrew: חַוְקֵי הַתֹּרֶן (khavkey hatoren) — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • Polish: wyblinka — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • Russian: вы́бленка (výblenka) — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • Spanish: flechaste — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • Swedish: vevling — net like ropework of the shrouds
  • Chinese Mandarin: 老鼠線 /老鼠线 (láoshǔxiàn) — Nazi escape route system
  • Dutch: rattenlijn — Nazi escape route system
  • German: Rattenlinie — Nazi escape route system