strop

[strop]

noun

1. any of several devices for sharpening razors, especially a strip of leather or other flexible material.

2. Nautical, Machinery.,  Also

   1. a rope or a band of metal surrounding and supporting a block, deadeye, etc.

   2. a metal band surrounding the pulley of a block to transmit the load on the pulley to its hook or shackle.

   3. a rope sling, as for handling cargo.

   4. a ring or grommet of rope.

verb (used with object)

stropped, stropping 

1. to sharpen on or as if on a strop.

strop

/ strɒp /

noun

1. a leather strap or an abrasive strip for sharpening razors

2. a rope or metal band around a block or deadeye for support

3. informal,  a temper tantrum

   he threw a strop and stormed off

verb

1. (tr) to sharpen (a razor, etc) on a strop

Other Word Forms

• stropper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of strop¹

before 1050; Middle English (noun), Old English; cognate with Dutch, Low German strop; all probably < Latin stroppus, variant of struppus strap

Word History and Origins

Origin of strop¹

C14 (in nautical use: a strip of rope): via Middle Low German or Middle Dutch strop, ultimately from Latin stroppus, from Greek strophos cord; see _strophe

Related Words

• file 
• grind 
• hone 
• whet