strop

American  

[strop] / strɒp /

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.

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verb (used with object)

stropped, stropping

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

strop British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• stropper noun

Etymology

Origin of strop

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

Example Sentences

But the spat punctures any suggestion that the Budget will end grumps and strops inside the party.

From BBC

Honey, this strop was about broad as your hand from thumb to little finger, and it was cut in strips up.

From Literature

I don't know what the style is, there seems no plan, no effort, players stropping at one another.

From BBC

The tour, for which the Jacksonville show was the sixth strop, runs through October and is in support of the March release of Wallen’s sophomore album, “One Thing at a Time.”

From Los Angeles Times

He left the field in a strop often enough after games, so what might he be saying in private given the overall malaise at Old Trafford?

From BBC

Related Words

• file
• grind
• hone
• whet