Rope | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Rōpe, n.

noun

Rōpe, n. [A-S. & O. Fries. rāp, O. Sax. & Sw. rēp, L. Ger. reep, D. reep, roop, Icel. reip, Goth. raip, raips, Dan. reeb, reb, N. H. Ger. reif. Cf. RAIP.] 1. A large, stout, twisted cord, of not less, usually, than an inch in circumference. It differs from cord, line, and string, only in its size. ☞ Ropes are, by seamen, ranked under two descriptions, cable-laid and hawser-laid; the former composed of nine strands, or three great strands, each consisting of three small ones; the latter made with three strands, each composed of a certain number of rope-yarns. Totten.

A row or string consisting of a number of things united; as, a rope of onions.
[pl.] [A-S. rappas.] The intestines of birds.

Rope of sand, a feeble union or tie; a band easily broken.

Rōpe, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. ROPED (rōpt); p. pr. & vb. n. ROPING.] To be formed into rope; to draw out or extend into a filament or thread, as by means of any glutinous or adhesive quality. Let us hang like roping icicles Upon our houses' thatch. Shak.

Rōpe, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. To draw by, or as by, a rope.

To rope in, as partisans, to draw in collectively and by force; — a phrase derived from the practice of winding a rope round large masses of hay heaped up in the field, and then drawing them to some point. [U. S.] Bartlett.