The Collaborative International Dictionary
Top-rope \Top"-rope`\, n. (Naut.) A rope used for hoisting and lowering a topmast, and for other purposes.
Wiktionary
n. (context nautical English) A rope used for hoisting and lowering a topmast, and for other purposes. vb. (cx climbing English) To belay from a fixed anchor point above the climber.
Usage examples of "top-rope".
Up and up it went, and peering with half-closed eyes into the glare of the covered sun, he guided it inch by inch, co-ordinating the successive heaves with the pitching of the ship The last half foot, and the whole ship's company held its breath, eyes fixed on the heel of the mast It crept a little higher, the new top-rope creaking in the block and sending down a cloud of shakings then with a jerk and a shudder along its whole length the heel lifted over the top-cap.
I sway away on all top-ropes for a nothing, and then I am sorry afterwards.
The camphor-wood or palm-rib bats lacked some of the elegance of willow, but the sailmaker had sewed a wholly professional ball, using leather that could be spared from gaff-jaws, and the players had swayed away on all top-ropes to do their service credit.