(1) In splicing or other work requiring the opening of the strands of rope one's fingers are often inadequate, and a marlinspike or fid must be employed.

(2) This knot is used to temporarily secure a marlinspike , a device used to splice rope, to another object.

(3) A screaming sailor, clad in a sodden loincloth and wielding a marlinspike , leaps at him.

(4) There's no technobabbling about phased inducers or flux capacitors or what-have-you; the ÔÇÿspace-shipsÔÇÖ are gorgeously retro, with sails and masts and marlinspikes .