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line ((n.))
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
1an.
a strong line or rope used in tracking (def. 1).
Quotations
1794
[We] mounted the Grand Rapid by the line without accident.
1872
A descent of over three feet per mile in the river flow generally requires the line.
1955
They pulled the rope over their shoulders and so towed the boat by "line."
1bn. — Local
See quote.
See: head of the line
Quotations
1940
It should be explained that this part of the [Mackenzie] river is called "the line" because, in the days before steamers, the scows, boats and canoes had to be tracked upstream with tow-lines.
2n.
the border between Canada and the United States.
Quotations
1812
. . . we may therefore conclude that those who have set up the war-whoop, on the other side of the line, have yet the trade to learn.
1860
But why is the British Columbian settler to pay double for land worth no more than that on the other side of the line?
1962
"I never saw a horse like him," marvelled a rider from across the line, "Kickers or whirlers or straight buckers are all the same to him."
3an. — Obs.
3bn.
a settlement road in Upper Canada, especially one identified with settlers of a certain origin. See 1896 quote.
Quotations
1828
. . . a teamster by the name of M'Pherson from the Scotch line, lost his span of horses and sleigh on Tuesday last. . . .
1853
George Desne . . . lived about three miles from the clearing known as the English line.
1896
[. . . the line of settlement went on merely as a line, not spreading out till long afterwards, so that as the land pleased them they sat down beside one another on both sides of the line rather than go back from it. The line was prolonged with settlers into Bristol, which was chiefly taken up by Scotchman.]
1961
McNaughton's Plan of 1836 shows Queen's Line as an opened road.
1965
True, there are highly visible shack-towns . . . the French Line up in Lanark and, over a larger area of the Shield, the Ozarks of Ontario.
1966
Their murder was the climax to a feud that raged among the Irish immigrants along the Roman Line of Biddulph township [near London, Ont.]
3cn.
a road, especially one built through the bush.
Probably a reduction of line of road, as in:
Quotations
1832
Another line of road . . . was pointed out . . . as a great military road from Halifax to Quebec.
3cn.
This usage seems commonest in areas of Irish and Scots settlement and may derive from older dialectal usage in the British Isles. See W. Kirwin, "Lines . . . in Newfoundland Names," America Speech (Oct., 1965), 163-5.
Quotations
1830
The greater part of this line is either a rough horsepath, or in the same state as that described under the name of a "new cut."
1832
This line would be a continuation of the road from Halifax to the bend of the River Petit Coudiac, thence to the gulf coast. . . .
1947
Whatever they could produce was easy to market, and if they didn't want to farm they could work farther up the line on the timber limits, which are now inside the Park boundaries.
4a†n. — Hist.
a line of blazed trees, stakes or cairns marking the boundary of a concession, lot, or other surveyed piece of land.
See: concession line(def. 1)
Quotations
1833
We found it almost impossible to ascertain our exact position, for the blazes which denote the lines of the lots and concessions are obliterated by time--if they were ever properly marked.
1846
Each settler was allowed to cut down the timber on that part of the line which adjoined his lot.
1954
"Years ago," he said, "I worked for a summer in the bush with a survey party, cutting lines."
4bn. — Ont.
a road built on the road allowance between concessions, following the concession line and connected to other concession roads by side roads, the distance separating each being, as a rule, 1¼ miles.
See: concession road
Quotations
1863
They wished even for the corduroy expedient a little farther on, when the line became encumbered with stumps left from the underbrushing. . . .
1924
. . . this grain was hauled down the 6th line and stored till the spring in Isaac Chafee's warehouse at Tullamore.
1963
A 67-year old retired farmer was found dead . . . yesterday when a neighbor called at their cottage on the 12th Line of Brooke Township. . . .
5n.
a series of traps set and maintained by a trapper who periodically runs the line, removing the trapped animals and resetting the traps.
See: trapline(def. 1)
Quotations
1853
Moreover, he [the wolverine] will follow the tracks of the trapper from one to another, until he has destroyed the whole line.
1872
We followed an old "sable line" . . . a line of traps set for that animal.
1946
We paddled fifteen miles further upriver, and there, where a turbulent creek empties into Horn River from the west or mountain side, we built another small line cabin.
1964
During the slim years . . . trappers left their lines and sought employment in business and industry.
6a†n. — Football
the seven players ranged along the line of scrimmage at the beginning of each down.
Quotations
1912
He bucked the line in fine shape. But it wasn't the full back or the scrimmage either. If the quarter had been right, it would have been different.
1960
And like a line plunger, he just whirled and crushed through the guests toward the door.
6bn.
in hockey and lacrosse, the line of three forwards.
Quotations
1966
The line of Jean Beliveau, Claude Provost and Gilles Tremblay figures to remain intact.
7n.
See 1953 quote.
See: main line(def. 2)
Quotations
1907
They [smalltime "free-traders"] could almost always "dead-head" their way up the line on a construction train.
1938
Part of the way to "the line" I pulled my outfit on a handsled.
1953
. . . provincial policemen carefully inspected the men who were going up to "the line" (transcontinental railway then being built, now the northern line of the Canadian National).
8n.
the rope by which sled-dogs are hitched to a sled, often made of rawhide.
Quotations
1951
We tried Chasseur, who was . . . now back on the line and pulling like a Trojan. . . .