line

line
{{11}}line (n.) a Middle English merger of O.E. line "cable, rope; series, row, row of letters; rule, direction," and O.Fr. ligne "guideline, cord, string; lineage, descent;" both from L. linea "linen thread, string, line," from phrase linea restis "linen cord," from fem. of lineus (adj.) "of linen," from linum "linen" (see LINEN (Cf. linen)). Oldest sense is "rope, cord, string;" extended late 14c. to "a thread-like mark" (from sense "cord used by builders for making things level," mid-14c.), also "track, course, direction." Sense of "things or people arranged in a straight line" is from 1550s. That of "cord bearing hooks used in fishing" is from c.1300. Meaning "one's occupation, branch of business" is from 1630s, probably from misunderstood KJV translation of 2 Cor. x.16, "And not to boast in another mans line of things made ready to our hand," where line translates Gk. kanon, lit. "measuring rod." Meaning "class of goods in stock" is from 1834. Meaning "telegraph wire" is from 1847 (later "telephone wire").
Meaning "policy or set of policies of a political faction" is 1892, Amer.Eng., from notion of a procession of followers; this is the sense in party line. In British army, the Line (1802) is the regular, numbered troops, as distinguished from guards and auxiliaries. In the Navy (1704, e.g. ship of the line) it refers to the battle line. Lines "words of an actor's part" is from 1882. Lines of communication were originally transverse trenches in siegeworks.
{{12}}line (v.1) "to cover the inner side of," late 14c., from O.E. lin "linen cloth" (see LINEN (Cf. linen)). Linen was frequently used in the Middle Ages as a second layer of material on the inner side of a garment. Related: LINED (Cf. Lined); LINING (Cf. lining).
{{12}}line (v.2) late 14c., "to tie with a cord," from LINE (Cf. line) (n.). Meaning "to mark or mark off with lines" is from mid-15c. Sense of "to arrange in a line" is from 1640s; that of "to join a line" is by 1773. To line up "form a line" is attested by 1889, in U.S. football.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Line — Line, n. [OE. line, AS. l[=i]ne cable, hawser, prob. from L. linea a linen thread, string, line, fr. linum flax, thread, linen, cable; but the English word was influenced by F. ligne line, from the same L. word linea. See {Linen}.] 1. A linen… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • line — [laɪn] noun [countable] 1. also product line MARKETING a type of product that a company makes or sells, often with several different sizes, models etc; = RANGE: • It continues to get about two thirds of it …   Financial and business terms

  • line — line1 [līn] n. [ME merging OE, a cord, with OFr ligne (both < L linea, lit., linen thread, n. use of fem. of lineus, of flax < linum, flax)] 1. a) a cord, rope, wire, string, or the like b) a long, fine, strong cord with a hook, sinker,… …   English World dictionary

  • Line — or lines may refer to: * Line (geometry), an infinitely extending one dimensional figure that has no curvature * a length of rope, cable or chain when put to use (such as a clothesline, anchor line) * a line or queue of people waiting in a queue… …   Wikipedia

  • Line 1 — or 1 line may refer to: Public transport Asia China Line 1, Beijing Subway, subway line in Beijing Line 1, Guangzhou Metro, metro line in Guangzhou, Guangdong Line 1 (Shanghai), a metro line of Shanghai Metro, Shanghai, China Japan Kūkō Line… …   Wikipedia

  • Line 4 — or 4 Line may refer to: Public transport 4 (New York City Subway service) Barcelona Metro line 4, line in the Barcelona Metro network operated by TMB Line 4, Beijing Subway, in Beijing, China Line 4 (Budapest Metro), fourth line of Budapest Metro …   Wikipedia

  • line — Ⅰ. line [1] ► NOUN 1) a long, narrow mark or band. 2) a length of cord, wire, etc. serving a purpose. 3) a row or connected series of people or things. 4) a row of written or printed words. 5) a direction, course, or channel. 6) …   English terms dictionary

  • line# — line n Line, row, rank, file, echelon, tier are comparable when meaning a series of things arranged in continuous or uniform order. Line means little more than this, except when it is attached to a specific application that increases its… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Line 2 — or 2 Line can refer to: Contents 1 Public transport 1.1 Asia 1.2 Europe 1.3 Americas 2 Politic …   Wikipedia

  • Line 6 — es un fabricante de modeladores digitales para guitarras eléctricas, guitarras acústicas, amplificadores y procesadores de efectos. Line 6 fue fundada a mediados de la década de 1990 y tiene su sede en Calabasas, California. Después de años de… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Line 7 — or 7 Line may refer to: 7 (New York City Subway service) Barcelona Metro line 7, metro like commuter train line in the Barcelona Metro Mexico City Metro Line 7, a rapid transit line in Mexico City Line 7, Beijing Subway, a rapid transit rail line …   Wikipedia

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