rope's end

1 of 2

noun

1

: a piece of rope especially for use as a lash for punishing

2

: a hangman's noose

rope's-end

2 of 2

transitive 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

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!