English
ropy
Ropy comes from Middle English ropy, and goes back to rop.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500rop
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500ropy
- Englishearliest quotation 1708same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500rop
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500ropy
- Englishearliest quotation 1708same form
Earliest quotation: 1708, John Philips, Book II: “The Hoary Froſts, and Northern Blaſts take care /…”
Formed from rope + -y
Proto-Indo-European *h₁reyp- ‘to tear, tear down’
…
Proto-Germanic *raipaz ‘strip’
Proto-West Germanic *raip ‘strip, band’
Old English rāp ‘rope, cord, cable’
Middle English rop ‘a rope’
English rope
Linked words
through Middle English rop
Another origin of ropy
- Scotsc. 1450–presentroup‘hoarseness, huskiness, any inflamed condition of the throat’
- Scots, derivedc. 1450–presentroupy‘husky’
- Englishtodayropy
Today it means
adj Resembling rope in appearance or texture, used especially of muscles that are thick or hard to the touch.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English rop / ropy