crack-rope

• crackrope

crack +‎ rope

crack-rope (plural crack-ropes)

1. (obsolete) A person who deserves to be, or is likely to be, hanged; a gallows bird.
   • 1564, Edwardes, Richard, Damon and Pythias; republished in King, Ros, editor, The Works of Richard Edwards, Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 2001, page 153:

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

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

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

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

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

• crack-hemp, gallows bird, wag-halter; See also Thesaurus:gallows bird