Obs. Also 7 loape-. Pl. lopestaves. [f. LOPE v. + STAFF.] A pole used for leaping dykes, etc., in the Fens and Low Countries.
1603. Drayton, Bar. Wars, I. xliii. Such as in fens and marsh-lands us’d to trade, The doubtful fords and passages to try, With stilts and lope-staves that do aptliest wade.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Bout, Baston a deux bouts, a quarterstaffe; or, a Lope-stafte, wherewith Low-countrey men leape ditches.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., I. 27. Tis usuall for the Bores of Holland, some with firelocks, and some with Loapestaves, to make out parties of foot to goe a-bootehaling.
1654. E. Johnson, Wonder-wrkg. Provid., 20. The Ditch … was so wide, that they could not leap over with a lope-staffe.
