Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Nautical, a rope applied through the heel of anything, particularly that which is rove through a sheave at the heel of the jib-boom or of the bowsprit, for the purpose of hauling it out.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Cause not known -- the heel-rope I thought at first; but on investigation I found the heel-rope had been on the other leg.

    Diseases of the Horse's Foot Harry Caulton Reeks

  • 'Well said, for there is a bond and a heel-rope [peecharee] between us now that nothing can break.

    Life's Handicap Rudyard Kipling 1900

  • Never was colt held on a lighter heel-rope than thou. '

    Kim Rudyard Kipling 1900

  • In climbing [431] palm trees to tap them for their juice the worker uses a heel-rope, by which his feet are tied closely together.

    The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India - Volume IV of IV Kumhar-Yemkala Robert Vane Russell 1894

  • Needham hurried aloft, and while the midshipmen hauled on the heel-rope of the topmast -- the shrouds and stays being slacked -- he tugged away at the fid.

    The Three Lieutenants William Henry Giles Kingston 1847

  • So we went out into darkness already jeweled by a hundred lanterns, dodged under the necks of three hungry Bactrian camels (they are irritable when they want their meal), were narrowly missed by a mule's heels because of the deceptive shadows that confused his aim, tripped over a donkey's heel-rope, and found our stairway -- thoroughly well cursed in seven languages, and only just missed by a Georgian gentleman on the balcony, who chose the moment of our passing underneath to empty out hissing liquid from his cooking pot.

    The Eye of Zeitoon Mundy, Talbot, 1879-1940 1920

  • So we went out into darkness already jeweled by a hundred lanterns, dodged under the necks of three hungry Bactrian camels (they are irritable when they want their meal), were narrowly missed by a mule's heels because of the deceptive shadows that confused his aim, tripped over a donkey's heel-rope, and found our stairway -- thoroughly well cursed in seven languages, and only just missed by a Georgian gentleman on the balcony, who chose the moment of our passing underneath to empty out hissing liquid from his cooking pot.

    The Eye of Zeitoon Talbot Mundy 1909

  • Never was colt held on a lighter heel-rope than thou.’

    Kim 2003

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