Sentence:  The dinghy was trailing astern at the end of its <WSD>painter</WSD>, and Merrion looked at it as he passed. He saw that it was a battered-looking affair of the prahm type, with a blunt snout, and like the parent ship, had recently been painted a vivid green. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A rope connected to the bow of a boat, used to attach it to e.g. a jetty or another boat. (from 17th c.)