lariat
UK[ˈlæriət]US[ˈlæriət]
n
A rope used for catching or tethering animals, especially horses or cattle; a lasso.
Etymology
The word 'lariat' entered English in the 19th century from American Spanish 'la reata', meaning "the rope" or specifically "the lasso." The Spanish term 'reata' itself derives from the verb 'reatar', meaning "to tie again" or "to fasten," which comes from Latin 're-' (again) and 'aptare' (to fasten). The English adaptation simplified the original phrase into a single, compact noun, perfectly capturing the essential tool of the cowboy and ranching culture of the American West, shifting from the literal action of "retying" to the name of the tool itself.
Analysis
The word is a loanword adopted as a single unit into English. Its components are not productively used as separate morphemes in modern English word formation.
Examples
The cowboy expertly threw his lariat to catch the runaway calf.
She learned how to tie a proper honda knot to form the loop at the end of a lariat.
A well-made lariat is an essential piece of equipment on any working ranch.