thumb-ropen.
Now dialect.
A rope made by twisting hay or straw on the thumb; cf. thumb-band n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > types of tools generally > [noun] > rope, string, cord, etc.
stringa900
linea1000
lacec1230
cordc1305
whipcord?a1500
thumb-rope1601
thumb-band1639
chord1645
spun-yarn1685
hairline1731
tie-tie1774
rope1841
wire rope2001
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > rope, cord, or line > types of > made of hay or straw
bandc1325
hay-rope?1523
vine1577
thumb-rope1601
thumb-band1639
suggan1722
simea1824
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xvii. ii. 501 To lap and wrap them about with wreaths and thumb-ropes of straw.
1601 J. Deacon & J. Walker Dialogicall Disc. Spirits & Diuels 83 Matters that cleaue together like thombe-roppes of sand.
1678 V. Alsop Melius Inquirendum ii. ii. 155 A Thumb-rope of Sand, will make an excellent Cable for Fishers-folly.
1733 J. Tull Horse-hoing Husbandry xxi. 139 Winding Thumb-Ropes of Straw about the iron Circles of the Wheels, and about the Spokes.
1805 R. Forsyth Beauties Scotl. II. 448 When ready for stacking, they are bound with thumb-ropes, and put on the carts.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Thoom-rope, a short straw-rope, extemporized by twisting it on the thumb of the right hand whilst the length required is drawn evenly through the left hand.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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n.1601