Ratlines

Ratlines (/ˈrætlɪnz/) are lengths of thin line tied between the shrouds of a sailing ship to form a ladder. Found on all square-rigged ships, whose crews must go aloft to stow the square sails, they also appear on larger fore-and-aft rigged vessels to aid in repairs aloft or conduct a lookout from above.

For the system of escape routes used by Nazis and other fascists after World War II, see Ratlines (World War II).
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