crack-rope

plural crack-ropes · alternative crackrope

1. obsoleteA person who deserves to be, or is likely to be, hanged; a gallows bird.

   Hark ye, ye crack-rope padder, born beggar, and bred thief!

   1818, Sir Walter Scott, The Heart of Midlothian (Waverley Novels; 7), London: Adam and Charles Black, published 1898, page 307

   2 more examples

   Jack. Master, I handled you not, but who did handle you very handsomely, you can tell. Carisophus. Handsomely, thou crack-rope?

   1564, Richard Edwardes, Damon and Pythias; republished in King, Ros, editor, The Works of Richard Edwards, Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 2001, page 153

   Then let him be led through every ſtreete in yᵉ towne, / That every crackrope, may throw rottē egs at yᵉ clown.

   1584, Anthony Munday, edited by Percy Simpson, Fidele and Fortunio, the Two Italian Gentlemen, The Malone Society, published 1909, page [55]

   Synonyms: crack-hemp, gallows bird, wag-halter