01 n. A pliant strip of wood or metal bent in a circular form, and united at the ends, for holding together the staves of casks, tubs, etc.
-
1.
A pliant strip of wood or metal bent in a circular form, and united at the ends, for holding together the staves of casks, tubs, etc.
-
2.
A ring; a circular band; anything resembling a hoop, as the cylinder (cheese hoop) in which the curd is pressed in making cheese.
-
3.
A circle, or combination of circles, of thin whalebone, metal, or other elastic material, used for expanding the skirts of ladies' dresses; crinoline; -- used chiefly in the plural.“Though stiff with hoops, and armed with ribs of whale.” — Pope.
-
4.
A quart pot; -- so called because originally bound with hoops, like a barrel. Also, a portion of the contents measured by the distance between the hoops.[Obs.]
-
5.
An old measure of capacity, variously estimated at from one to four pecks.[Eng.]
Phrases & compounds
Bulge hoop —
the hoop nearest the middle of a cask, that nearest the end, and the intermediate hoop between these two, respectively.
Flat hoop —
a wooden hoop dressed flat on both sides.
Half-round hoop —
a wooden hoop left rounding and undressed on the outside.
Hoop iron —
iron in thin narrow strips, used for making hoops.
Hoop lock —
the fastening for uniting the ends of wooden hoops by notching and interlocking them.
Hoop skirt —
a framework of hoops for expanding the skirts of a woman's dress; -- called also hoop petticoat.
Hoop snake —
a harmless snake of the Southern United States (Abaster erythrogrammus); -- so called from the mistaken notion that it curves itself into a hoop, taking its tail into its mouth, and rolls along with great velocity.
Hoop tree —
a small West Indian tree (Melia sempervirens), of the Mahogany family.