noun
painter
A rope attached to a small boat for tying it up.
She ties the dinghy's painter to a cleat on the dock.
Etymology
The older rope-name is associated with hanging or suspension. In nautical English it became the line attached to a small boat for securing or towing it.
More examples
- Hold the painter while I climb into the boat.
- The canoe drifts away when its painter comes loose.
- We check both dinghies' painters for wear.
Forms
painter · painters