Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A yarn composed of many fibers, as of hemp, loosely twisted, several of which twisted together make a strand.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun the yarn or thread of any stuff of which the strands of a rope are made.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the strands out of which ropes are made

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • The blade was not very sharp, and he sawed away, rope-yarn by rope-yarn, the awful picture of the solitary Siberian exile he must endure growing clearer and more terrible at every stroke.

    The Lost Poacher 2010

  • Not a man of us turns to, unless you swear not to raise a rope-yarn against us.

    Moby Dick; or the Whale 2002

  • The boys now proceeeded to cut slits in the flippers and lash them together with rope-yarn, the animal being thus placed _hors de combat_.

    Lippincott's Magazine, October 1885 Various

  • Four buzzards wheeled above it, gorged and slow; the harbour lay before him like a green mirror, so still that the ship was reflected in it down to the last rope-yarn.

    O. Henry Memorial Award Prize Stories of 1921 Various

  • In making the wad, the end of a rope-yarn is fixed in the score, and the mould is turned by a crank until the score is filled.

    Ordnance Instructions for the United States Navy. 1866. Fourth edition. United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance

  • He now proceeded to force open the locker, in the hope of finding them something that might be serviceable to us; but its entire contents consisted of a coil of fine rope, some pieces of rope-yarn, an empty quart-bottle, and an old and battered hatchet-head.

    The Island Home Richard Archer

  • Gigantic black canvas wings hung from his shoulders, and a huge wig of rope-yarn, with the hair falling to his waist, sat on his head.

    Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate"

  • -- Our carpenter is now among our sick, his cutting tools are but few, and these mostly broken and bound about with rope-yarn as fast as may be.

    Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages Anonymous

  • I saw the fellow had on a long, rope-yarn beard and a wig to match, while

    Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate"

  • When thus rendered harmless, their yells were terrific, until it was found necessary for the peace of the harbor to GAG THEM; which was done by gently placing an iron pump-bolt between the jaws of each of the maniacs, and fastening it by a rope-yarn behind the ear.

    Jack in the Forecastle or, Incidents in the Early Life of Hawser Martingale John Sherburne Sleeper

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