marl

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

marl, v. t. [See Marline.].

 To cover, as part of a rope, with marline, marking a pecular hitch at each turn to prevent unwinding.  [1913 Webster]

Marling spike. (Naut.) See under Marline.

marl, n. [OF. marle, F. marne, LL. margila, dim. of L. marga marl. Originally a Celtic word, according to Pliny, xvii. 7: “Quod genus terræ Galli et Britanni margam vocant.”

 A mixed earthy substance, consisting of carbonate of lime, clay, and sand, in very variable proportions, and accordingly designated as calcareous, clayey, or sandy. See Greensand.  [1913 Webster]

marl, v. t. [Cf. F. marner. See Marl, n.].

 To overspread or manure with marl; as, to marl a field.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

marl, n. & v.
--n. soil consisting of clay and lime, with fertilizing properties.
--v.tr. apply marl to (the ground).

Derivative

marly adj.

marl, n.
1 a mottled yarn of differently coloured threads.
2 the fabric made from this.

Etymology

shortening of marbled: see MARBLE

ROGET THESAURUS

marl

Land

N land, earth, ground, dry land, terra firma, continent, mainland, peninsula, chersonese, delta, tongue of land, neck of land, isthmus, oasis, promontory, highland, coast, shore, scar, strand, beach, playa, bank, lea, seaboard, seaside, seabank, seacoast, seabeach, ironbound coast, loom of the land, derelict, innings, alluvium, alluvion, ancon, riverbank, river bank, levee, soil, glebe, clay, loam, marl, cledge, chalk, gravel, mold, subsoil, clod, clot, rock, crag, acres, real estate, landsman, earthy, continental, midland, coastal, littoral, riparian, alluvial, terrene, landed, predial, territorial, geophilous, ripicolous, ashore, on shore, on land.

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