Naut. [f. STRAY a. (or STRAY sb. 7) + LINE sb.]
1. (See quot. 1867.)
1703. Dampier, Voy., III. I. 99. An extraordinary Care ought to be used in heaving the Log, for fear of giving too much Stray-Line in a moderate Gale.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Stray line of the log, about 10 or 12 fathoms of line left unmarked next the log-ship, in order that it may get out of the eddy of the ship’s wake before the measuring begins, or the glass is turned.
2. = STRAY sb. 6.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine, II. (1780), Derive … the stray-line, or allowance made for stray-line, occasioned by a ship’s falling to leeward, when sounding, in deep water.
3. Whaling. That part of the tow-line that is in the water when fast to a whale.
1820. Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., II. 232. A portion of five or six fathoms of the line first put into the boat called the ‘stray-line,’ is left uncovered, by that which follows.
4. A submerged or floating line fastened at one end only.
1888. T. Hardy, Wessex Tales, II. v. 143. They’ll string the tubs to a stray-line, and sink ’em a little-ways from shore.
