[Of uncertain etymology: in mod.F. carlingue ‘the step of a mast, the peece of timber whereinto the foot thereof enters’ (Cotgr.), (according to Littré from English); Pg., Sp., It. carlinga. Icel. kerling (in the þulur), as if the same word as CARLINE1.]
1. Naut. One of the pieces of timber about 5 inches square in section, lying fore and aft under the deck of a ship, with their ends let culvertail-wise into the beams. ‘On and athwart these the ledges rest, whereon the planks of the deck and other portions of carpentry are made fast’ (Smyth, Word-bk.).
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Aileurs, Our Ship-wrights name them Comings or Carlings.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ii. 7. Carlings … lieth along the ship from beame to beame.
1775. Falch, Day’s Diving Vess., 5. These stanchions were again supported with cross beams or carlings in the middle of the chamber.
1804. A. Duncan, Mariner’s Chron., II. 325. The first explosion … struck them against the carlings of the upper deck, so as to stun them.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxi. 119. The water dropping from the beams and carlines.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 103. The carlings by the side of, and for the support of the mast … are much larger than the rest.
1863. Times, 19 March, 14/2. Iron carlines.
2. dial. (see quot.).
1875. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., Carlin, or Carelin, the portable beam beneath a hatchway in the floor, for giving cross-support to the hatch-lid.
3. Carling-knee, a piece of timber lying transversely from the ship’s side to the hatchway, serving to sustain the deck between the two.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Sea-men, 30. Carling-knees for the Dauid. Ibid. (1627), Seaman’s Gram., ii. 7. The Carling knees … comes thwart the ship from the sides of the Hatches way.
1704. in J. Harris, Lex. Techn.
1867. in Smyth.
