noun, masculine/kɔʁ.do/plural: cordeaux
rope, string (used to mark a straight line); cord (long length of twisted strands of fibre); straight line; line, fishing line; fuse (cord that conveys fire to an explosive device)
“Aligner une muraille au cordeau.” — To align a wall along a straight line.
Mid-16ᵗʰ century, from Old French cordel, from corde, from Latin chorda, from Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ).