Abaster erythrogrammus
(gcide) | Hoop \Hoop\, n. [OE. hope; akin to D. hoep, hoepel.]
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.
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2. A ring; a circular band; anything resembling a hoop, as
the cylinder (cheese hoop) in which the curd is pressed in
making cheese.
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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.
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Though stiff with hoops, and armed with ribs of
whale. --Pope.
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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.]
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5. An old measure of capacity, variously estimated at from
one to four pecks. [Eng.] --Halliwell.
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Bulge hoop, Chine hoop, Quarter 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 (Zool.), 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 (Bot.), a small West Indian tree ({Melia
sempervirens}), of the Mahogany family.
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