rope
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To lose a race of any kind purposely, to swindle one’s backers or the public by means of a "cross" or pre-arranged race, in which the best man or best horse is made to ROPE, or run behind.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “rope” mean?
To lose a race of any kind purposely, to swindle one’s backers or the public by means of a "cross" or pre-arranged race, in which the best man or best horse is made to ROPE, or run behind.
Is “rope” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.