Mainbrace

There will be sunshine, a lounger by the pool, a mint julep or two and more food than I normally eat in a year for me, whilst the two 82 year old ex-Royal Marines down in steerage busy themselves scrubbing the decks, splicing the mainbrace, watching out for icebergs, sending morse code messages and going on runs ashore. ❋ Unknown (2007)

Currently wishing she had paid more attention to knot-tying in the Brownies and anything remotely mathematical in her entire school career she may emerge from university yet again, this time as a naval officer able to tie a bowline and splice a mainbrace. ❋ Unknown (2007)

In pirate language, “splice the mainbrace” means to have a drink and “to dance with Jack Ketch” means to go to the hangman. ❋ Unknown (2007)

Except I don't know what a mainbrace is, nor how to splice it. ❋ DAVID BISHOP (2007)

Execs at The Walt Disney Co. ought to have been splicing the mainbrace having a drink to a couple of key hands in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise last night. ❋ Unknown (2006)

Execs at The Walt Disney Co. ought to have been splicing the mainbrace having a drink to a couple of key hands in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise on Monday. ❋ Forbes.com Staff (2006)

Let us splice the mainbrace to steel the men before battle. ❋ Unknown (2005)

“This is —, your honour; and here, if your honour will accept a glass of whiskey we will splice the mainbrace together.” ❋ Unknown (2004)

“I suppose,” said I, “by your talking of splicing the mainbrace that you are a sailor.” ❋ Unknown (2004)

Sharina hopped onto the crosspole which attached the outrigger to the hull, gripping the starboard mainbrace. ❋ Unknown (1997)

"It's akin to splicing the mainbrace, Mr Lincoln," says I, "and is a term which anyone who is truly interested in the sea would have found out from a nautical almanac long ago." ❋ Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- (1971)

His hardest duty was supposed to be shinning up the ratlin to "reef," or "brail up," or "splice the mainbrace," or do some other of those mysterious things that caused him to look so mythical to the minds of land-lubbers and the simple-hearted kind of women that used to be, but now no longer are. ❋ Various (N/A)