Obs. [f. CRACK v. + ROPE.]
1. = CRACK-HALTER; also = rogue, vituperatively, and playfully.
c. 1450. Henryson, Tod’s Confessioun, 48 (Jam.). Syne widdie-nek and crak-raip callit als, And till our hyre hangit up be the hals.
1571. Edwards, Damon & P., in Hazl., Dodsley, IV. 68. Away, you crack-ropes, are you fighting at the court-gate?
1611. Cotgr., Baboin, a crackrope, waghalter, unhappie rogue, retchless villaine.
1620. Shelton, Don Quix., III. iii. 19. ‘Sancho, you are a Crack-rope,’ quoth Don Quixote, ‘ifaith you want no Memory.’
1708. Motteux, Rabelais, V. vii. (1737), 66. About a Score of fusty Crack-ropes and Gallow-clappers.
2. attrib. or adj.
1611. Tarlton’s Jests (1844), 19. There was a crack-rope boy, meeting Tarlton in London street.
1631. Shirley, Love in Maze, IV. iii. You do not know the mystery: this lady is a boy, a very crack-rope boy.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxx. Ye crack-rope padder, born beggar, and bred thief.
