Crossword clue: the small transverse ropes attached to the shrouds and forming the steps of a rope ladder. totten.

The most common answer is ratlines (8 letters).

2 answers found in Letterora's clue database (Wikidata facts, Open Trivia DB, WordNet and Webster definitions — all licensed sources).

Possible answers

ratlines 8 letters web-def

(nautical) a small horizontal rope between the shrouds of a sailing ship; they form a ladder for climbing aloft

ratlins 7 letters web-def

(nautical) a small horizontal rope between the shrouds of a sailing ship; they form a ladder for climbing aloft