ropy

[ roh-pee ]

adjective

, rop·i·er, rop·i·est.

1. resembling a rope or ropes:

   ropy muscles.

2. forming viscid or glutinous threads, as a liquid.

Other Words From

• ropi·ly adverb
• ropi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ropy¹

First recorded in 1470–80; rope + -y ¹

Example Sentences

He was a short, lean man with a leathery face and long, black ropy hair, and beady black eyes that caught the light like a cat's.

From Project Gutenberg

Near the Guardian Rocks large masses of ropy lava are found which suggest ejected bombs.

From Project Gutenberg

Put a pint of clean sugar to a pint of juice, and boil it slowly, till it becomes ropy.

From Project Gutenberg

All I could see then was a bunch of black ropy arms tangled around what looked like, as Putz described it to you, an ostrich.

From Project Gutenberg

The wet shirt clinging close to his body outlined well-knit shoulders, ropy-muscled arms.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• athletic
• brawny
• burly
• powerful
• robust
• sinewy
• stout
• strapping
• sturdy
• vigorous
• wiry