rope's-end

Mr. HAGGARTY went to the stern, where he employed his time in cleaning out the sailor-man's pockets, while DELANO dived into the hold, to see if he couldn't find an old worm-box, or a rope's-end, which had no revenue stamp upon them.

Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 14, July 2, 1870 Various

No, the colliding ship had made a "clean sweep" of all their spars and rigging and everything; hardly a rope's-end remaining attached to the cutter, beyond a part of the mainsheet and a bit of the forestay, which latter was hanging down from the bowsprit, the only spar the yacht had left.

Bob Strong's Holidays Adrift in the Channel John B. [Illustrator] Greene

They could not be got upon deck in the night, or if by dint of the rope's-end they were at length routed out of their hammocks, they immediately developed the worst symptoms of the "waister" -- seasickness and fear of that which is high.

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

But, greatly to my astonishment, my watch-mate raised a rope's-end which he held in his outstretched hand and proceeded to lay it across my shoulders; the beggar giving me several sharp cuts with the "colt" ere I realised what he was up to.

Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant John B. [Illustrator] Greene

"Oh, was it?" said he, ironically, still laying on as hard as he could with the rope's-end, which really stung me very much.

Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant John B. [Illustrator] Greene

He had eaten nothing for four and twenty hours, he declared, and when plied with supper and questions by the kind-hearted but inquisitive old lady, he explained that he was an apprentice to the sea, and had run from his ship at Woolwich because of the mate's unduly basting him with a rope's-end.

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

If he had a lame leg or a bad foot, he was "started" with a rope's-end as a "slacker."

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

Ireland's contribution to the fleet, apart from the notoriously disaffected, was of too much consequence to be played with; for the Irishman was essentially a good-natured soul, and when his native indolence and slowness of movement had been duly corrected by a judicious use of the rattan and the rope's-end, his services were highly esteemed in His

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

To hold them to quarters in '97, when engaging the enemy off Brest, the rattan and the rope's-end had to be unsparingly used.

The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore

"That will teach you not to supplant me and go in my boat again, you young rascal!" he cried, pegging away merrily with the rope's-end on my bare back.

Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant John B. [Illustrator] Greene