1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Marline-spike hitch, a peculiar hitch in marling, made by laying the marline-spike upon the seizing stuff, and then bringing the end of that seizing over the standing part, so as to form a jamming bight.
1882 G. S. Nares (ed. 6) 21 Marling-spike, or Midshipman hitch.