n. [ AS. rāp; akin to D. reep, G. reif ring hoop, Icel. reip rope, Sw. rep, Dan. reb, reeb Goth. skaudaraip latchet. ] 1. A large, stout cord, usually one not less than an inch in circumference, made of strands twisted or braided together. It differs from cord, line, and string, only in its size. See Cordage. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A row or string consisting of a number of things united, as by braiding, twining, etc.; as, a rope of onions. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. The small intestines; as, the ropes of birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rope ladder, a ladder made of ropes. --
Rope mat., a mat made of cordage, or strands of old rope. --
Rope of sand, something of no cohession or fiber; a feeble union or tie; something not to be relied upon. --
Rope pump, a pump in which a rapidly running endless rope raises water by the momentum communicated to the water by its adhesion to the rope. --
Rope transmission (Mach.), a method of transmitting power, as between distant places, by means of endless ropes running over grooved pulleys. --
Rope's end, a piece of rope; especially, one used as a lash in inflicting punishment. --
To give one rope, to give one liberty or license; to let one go at will uncheked. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To bind, fasten, or tie with a rope or cord; as, to rope a bale of goods. Hence: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To connect or fasten together, as a party of mountain climbers, with a rope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To partition, separate, or divide off, by means of a rope, so as to include or exclude something; as, to rope in, or rope off, a plot of ground; to rope out a crowd. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To lasso (a steer, horse). [ Colloq. U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To draw, as with a rope; to entice; to inveigle; to decoy; as, to rope in customers or voters. [ Slang, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To prevent from winning (as a horse), by pulling or curbing. [ Racing Slang, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Roped 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let us not hang like ropingicicles
Upon our houses' thatch. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A small piece of spun yarn or marline, used to fasten the head of the sail to the spar. [ Written also roband, and robbin. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who dances, walks, or performs acrobatic feats, on a rope extended through the air at some height. -- Rope"dan`cing, n. [1913 Webster]

n. 1. A maker of ropes. P. Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who ropes goods; a packer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One fit to be hanged. [ Old Slang ] Douce. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A place where ropes are made. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Tricks deserving the halter; roguery. [ Obs. ] “Saucy merchant . . . so full of his ropery.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To punish with a rope's end. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. A long, covered walk, or a low, level building, where ropes are manufactured. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A ropedancer. [ 1913 Webster ]