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

  • Line — (l[imac]n), v. t. 1. To mark with a line or lines; to cover with lines; as, to line a copy book. [1913 Webster] He had a healthy color in his cheeks, and his face, though lined, bore few traces of anxiety. Dickens. [1913 Webster] 2. To represent… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Line 6 — and similar can refer to the following: Route 6 (Baltimore), a bus route Line 6, Beijing Subway, a subway line in Beijing, China 6 (New York City Subway service) Mexico City Metro Line 6 Line 6 (Madrid Metro) Seoul Subway Line 6 Line 6, Shanghai… …   Wikipedia

  • line up — {v. phr.} 1. To take places in a line or formation; stand side by side or one behind another; form a line or pattern. * /The boys lined up and took turns diving off the springboard./ * /The football team lined up in a T formation./ 2. To put in… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • line up — {v. phr.} 1. To take places in a line or formation; stand side by side or one behind another; form a line or pattern. * /The boys lined up and took turns diving off the springboard./ * /The football team lined up in a T formation./ 2. To put in… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Line — Line, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lined} (l[imac]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lining}.] [See {Line} flax.] 1. To cover the inner surface of; as, to line a cloak with silk or fur; to line a box with paper or tin. [1913 Webster] The inside lined with rich… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Line-up — Lineup Line up (l[imac]n [u^]p), n. 1. The members of a team who are scheduled to play a game. [PJC] 2. Specifically: The formation of football players before the start or a restart of play. [PJC] 3. Specifically: (baseball) a list of batters in …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Line up — (or line up) may refer to * a queue of waiting people * a police lineup (or identity parade) of suspects * the roster of a sports team at a given time ** batting order in baseball ** the starting position in polocrosse * the members of a music… …   Wikipedia

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