Part 401

Root"less, a. Destitute of roots.

Root"let (?), n. A radicle; a little root.

Root"stock` (?), n. (Bot.) A perennial underground stem, producing leafly s&?;ems or flower stems from year to year; a rhizome.

Root"y (?), a. Full of roots; as, rooty ground.

Ro*pal"ic (?), a. See Rhopalic.

Rope (?), n. [AS. rp; 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.

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

3. pl. The small intestines; as, the ropes of birds.

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.

Rope (?), 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.

Let us not hang like ropingicicles Upon our houses' thatch.

Shak.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Rope"band` (?), 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.]

Rope"dan`cer (?), n. One who dances, walks, or performs acrobatic feats, on a rope extended through the air at some height. -- Rope"dan`cing, n.

Rop"er (?), n. 1. A maker of ropes. P. Plowman.

2. One who ropes goods; a packer.

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

Rop"er*y (?), n. 1. A place where ropes are made.

2. Tricks deserving the halter; roguery. [Obs.] "Saucy merchant . . . so full of his ropery." Shak.

Rope's"-end` (?), v. t. To punish with a rope's end.

Rope"walk` (?), a. A long, covered walk, or a low, level building, where ropes are manufactured.

Rope"walk`er (?), n. A ropedancer.