ropemaker
Braids hemp professionally
A ropemaker is a person who makes rope, twisting fibers together into cordage.
The trade was essential before industrial manufacturing—shipyards, farms, and construction all depended on handmade rope.
Ropemakers traditionally worked in long narrow buildings called ropewalks, where they could lay out full lengths of rope as they twisted the strands.
Ropes and twines collectively
- braidingInterlacing three strands
- splicingConnecting by interweaving ends
- knottingForming fixed interlacements
- twistingRotating with distortion
laying · fibers · hemp · sisal · jute · manila · coir · flax
Industrial fiber crop
- sisalAgave-derived rope fiber
- jutePlant fiber for sacking
- manilaYellowish-brown hemp material
- coirPalm-fruit husk fiber
flax · cotton · nylon · polyester · fiber · filament · strand · yarn
Ropes and twines collectively
- twineStranded cord for tying
- cableHeavy-duty woven line
- hawserThick nautical tethering rope
- lineContinuous mark or queue
lashing · halter · lariat · riata · binding · net · hammock · bellpull
cordage
Ropes and twines collectively
- braidingInterlacing three strands
- splicingConnecting by interweaving ends
- knottingForming fixed interlacements
twisting · laying · fibers · hemp · sisal · jute · manila · coir · flax · strand
hemp
Industrial fiber crop
coir · flax · cotton · nylon · polyester · fiber · filament · strand · yarn · thread
cordage
Ropes and twines collectively
line · lashing · halter · lariat · riata · binding · net · hammock · bellpull
rigging
Ropes controlling ship sails
- marlinspikePointed tool for splicing
- seamanshipSkill in operating vessels
- hawserThick nautical tethering rope
shroud · tackle · block · capstan · mooring · shipyard · sailor · bosun · deckhand · anchor
twisting
Rotating with distortion
plying · winding · intertwining · laying · splicing · knotting · hitching · whipping · seizing · serving
- craftspeoplepotter, weaver, blacksmith, artisan, potters
- colonial tradesblacksmith, carpenter, cooper, cobbler, silversmith
- craftsmenblacksmith, carpenter, cobbler, mason, weaver
- old occupationsblacksmith, carpenter, miller, farmer, shepherd
- medieval tradesblacksmith, carpenter, baker, weaver, potter
- traditional occupationsfarming, fishing, herding, blacksmith, weaving