Dictionary

ropeline en · NOUN

Etymology

From rope + line.

Meanings

1. A line of rope with the purpose of moving people or goods from one location to another.
   • Therefore, at the beginning of the operation, the packet did not always reach the turning points of the ropeline at the intermediary supports. 1953, Stephen Timoshenko, History of the Development of Strength of Materials in Russia, page 112:
   • For these three villages, the first item of common priority was a light kind of ropeline; to Paudwar, pipeline was also of first rank. The purpose of ropeline is mainly to carry down fodder grass, firewood and animal compost from hill to settlement. 1985, Tejvir Singh, Integrated Mountain Development, page 417:
   • The ropeline to be installed this time was designed for downhill use only and consisted of spans of more than 1,000 meters each. 1990, Mae H. Esterline, Faith in Asia's Poor: Ten Paths to Rural Development:
2. A line of rope that is used for climbing.
   • For the optimal ropeline one has to consider the way the rope runs along the body of the lead climber, as well as the way the rope runs in the entire climbing route. In a fall, the correct ropeline along the body is paramount for avoiding injuries. 2016, Detlef Heise-Flecken, Rock Climbing: Technique:
   • Gombu then went forward and with the aid of oxygen succeeded in cutting steps and fixing ropelines up to the so-called Yellow Band and finally reached the Geneva Spur. 1970, B. N. Mullik, The Sky was His Limit: The Life and Climbs of Sonam Gyatso, page 64:
3. A rope barrier used to separate a crowd from a celebrity or politician.
   • Off he'd wander, down the ropeline, grinning, winking, bending down to take a bite of somebody's hot dog, closing his eyes to kiss some baby. 1991, George Rush, Confessions of an Ex-Secret Service Agent, page 31:
   • The President made remarks, worked a ropeline, then departed. 1998, The Current Implementation of the Independent Counsel Act, United States Congress House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight:
   • There was a plywood stage and a microphone in front of the ropeline, and behind, some kids—looked like one busload—with hand-painted signs: LET GEORGE DO IT and IOWA BUSH. 2011, Richard Ben Cramer, What It Takes: The Way to the White House:

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