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Painter - origins of the term

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I was recently explaining what painters were and how they are used on your canoe. Afterwards I realized I have used that term, painters, for many many years without ever having known the origin of the term. It seems a curious word choice for a length of line.

Does anyone have an idea on how those lengths of line became to be called painters? It seems logical to think painting must be involved, but for the life of me I can't figure out a connection.
 
Likely of English origin. It was used in WIND IN THE WILLOWS, the early 20th century Bitish children's book. Considering older matters and the look of the word, possibly French ultimately.
 
From the dictionary

A rope attached to the bow of a boat, used for tying up, as when docking or towing.
[Middle English peintour, probably from Old French pentoir, strong rope, from pendre, to hang, from Vulgar Latin *pendere, from Latin pend
emacr.gif
re; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]
 
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