footropes
/ˈfʊtˌroʊps/
noun
- Ropes that run along the lower edge of a sail on a ship, used by sailors to stand on while handling the sail.
- The sailor balanced carefully on the footropes as he adjusted the sail.
- Learning to walk on the footropes was one of the first skills for new sailors.
- During the storm, the crew held tightly to the footropes to avoid falling.