rope's end
1 of 2noun
1
: a piece of rope especially for use as a lash for punishing
2
: a hangman's noose
rope's-end
2 of 2transitive verb
: to punish with a rope's end
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English roppys end, from roppys, ropes (genitive of rope entry 1) + end, ende end
Transitive verb
rope's end
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Transitive Verb
1803, in the meaning defined above