Where does “ropy” come from?
ropy (Middle English) comes from Middle English rop, from Old English rāp, from Proto-West Germanic raip, from Proto-Germanic raipaz, from Proto-Indo-European roypnós — strap, band, rope.
Ancestry of “ropy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | rop | — |
| 2 | Old English | rāp | rope, cord, cable; strap, band, cord |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | raip | strip, band |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | raipaz | strip; margin; strap; band; rein; cord; rope;... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | roypnós | strap, band, rope |
Words derived from “ropy”