Rope
/roʊp/noun
A strong length of twisted fibers or similar material used for tying, pulling, or securing things.
Did you know?The word goes back to a Germanic root meaning a twisted cord, and its deep relatives include everyday words like “raid,” “rid,” and “ravel,” all tied to the ancient idea of twisting and arranging.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reup-
“to tear, pluck, or snatch”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*raupaz
“a rope or cord”
Old English
English
rāp
“a rope, cord, or tether”
Late Old English / Middle English
English
rope
“a rope or cord”
Modern English
English
rope
“a strong twisted length of fiber or similar material”