: a short rope with its ends spliced to form a circle
b
: a usually leather band for sharpening a razor
strop
2 of 2
verb
stropped; stropping
transitive verb
: to sharpen (a razor) on a strop
Synonyms
Verb
edge
grind
hone
sharpen
stone
whet
See all Synonyms & Antonyms
Example Sentences
Verb at the museum they showed us how men used to strop razors with leather bands before the days of disposable blades
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The watch is offered with an interchangeable strop that can be substituted for another with the simple touch of a button. Roberta Naas, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Some sharpeners also include a ceramic honing rod or leather strop. Adrienne Donica, Popular Mechanics, 23 Feb. 2021 That said, straight razor fans with impeccable skill and the diligence to keep this very sharp instrument away from pets and kids will doubtless appreciate the ability to replace the blade instead of using a strop.Popular Science, 16 Mar. 2020 Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, looked back at his winger throwing a strop on the bench behind him and shrugged it off with a chuckle.SI.com, 16 Sep. 2019 To remove the burr, use a leather strop, one of rubberized cork or softwood with a polishing compound on its surface. Josh Donald, Popular Mechanics, 17 Nov. 2017 Lay the knife over the strop’s face and draw it backward. Josh Donald, Popular Mechanics, 17 Nov. 2017
Verb
The Department of Transportation said the policy was in response to Beijing's refusal to allow a resumption of flights to China by U.S. carriers that stropped flying to China due to U.S. coronavirus restrictions. Harold Maass, TheWeek, 4 June 2020 Sometimes a leafy twig is selected, and before this can be used the chimpanzee has to strop off the leaves.National Geographic, 17 Apr. 2019 There’s little thunder, no off-piste mental excursions, no sense of a writer stropping his razor.New York Times, 9 July 2018 Sometimes a leafy twig is selected, and before this can be used the chimpanzee has to strop off the leaves.National Geographic, 17 Apr. 2019 There’s little thunder, no off-piste mental excursions, no sense of a writer stropping his razor.New York Times, 9 July 2018 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English — more at strap
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1837, in the meaning defined above
strop
verb
as in to sharpen
to make sharp or sharper at the museum they showed us how men used to strop razors with leather bands before the days of disposable blades