pronounce bowline knot?

**motorapido** · 08-01-2011, 12:35

Dumb question from an unashamed dummy. Is the "bowline knot" pronounced like the bow of a ship or like the bow of a violin? I assume bow of a ship, since knot names are often coming from sailors.

**raiffnuke** · 08-01-2011, 12:42

(Bo-Line) like the bow of a violin.

**Ears** · 08-01-2011, 13:03

we'd call it a bolin knot

just to clarify by beating this horse past dead
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bowline
theres a pronuciation button for the win

**Timberrr** · 08-01-2011, 13:03

Originally Posted by motorapido

Dumb question from an unashamed dummy. Is the "bowline knot" pronounced like the bow of a ship or like the bow of a violin? I assume bow of a ship, since knot names are often coming from sailors.

Your assumption is reasonable. Just remember, sailors always abbreviate everythin'. (blame the British)
So take out the 'W' and the 'E', use a long-o and a short-i and say it quickly - you get bolin.

PS. IMHO its the most useful of all knots.

**MacEntyre** · 08-01-2011, 13:03

Bo-Lyn

It's pronunciation is not quite as important as it's looks, but to be yar, one must do both correctly!

- MacEntyre

**NCPatrick** · 08-01-2011, 13:06

Arrrr ye be callin it whatever ye likes... arrrr...

**Ears** · 08-01-2011, 13:48

+1 to timberr, i are a sailor, or was, and hes darn right,
oooohhhhhhhhhhhhh, what do you do with a drunken sailor, what do you do with a drunken sailor, what do you do with a drunken sailor? earli in tha mornin.
yoooooouuuuu shave his head with a rusty razor, shave his head with a rusty razor, shave his head with a rusty razor! erli in the mornin.....ect go on but i don wanna keep typing a song that makes me look retarded....

**Ears** · 08-01-2011, 13:49

timberr, this is off topic, but how is the eurika chrysais....

is it "an" eurika
or "a" eurika............

**dkperdue** · 08-01-2011, 14:07

Every climbing or knots class I've ever had it was the "Bo-Lyn" pronunciation

But if you were on a vessel, you would cast off the bow line (Bow like the part of a ship, or bending in half in front of the Queen)

(Perhaps it is fixed to the ship with a "bo-lyn" though??)

DKPerdue

**Rain Man** · 08-01-2011, 14:31

Oxford dictionary for - bowline

I just love good online dictionaries. Though I admit I don't pronounce the "i" as a long "i" (i.e., "eye").

Rain Man

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