ropy

Resembling rope in appearance or texture, used especially of muscles that are thick or hard to the touch.

Adjective

Resembling rope in appearance or texture, used especially of muscles that are thick or hard to the touch.
- Myofascial Syndrome Hence, myofascial pain is usually associated with a taut band, indicating a "ropey" thickening of muscle tissue.
Capable of forming rope-like or thread-like structures.
Of milk or another liquid: slimy, as after the action of Enterobacter aerogenes in syrup.
- The Hoary Froſts, and Northern Blaſts take care / Thy muddy Bev'rage to ſerene, and drive / Præcipitant the baſer, ropy Lees. - 1708, [John Philips], “Book II”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC,...
Synonyms: bingy

From Middle English ropy, from Middle English rop + -y, equivalent to rope + -y.

Of poor quality; in poor health.
- The very poultry in the coop / Began to pine away and droop— / The cock was first to go; / And glad we were on all our parts, / He used to damp our very hearts / With such a ropy crow. - 1845, Thomas Hood, The Captain’s...
- Although Britain’s migration figures are ropey, other data point in the same direction. - 2012 September 8, “Emigration: On The Road”, in The Economist:
Synonyms: inferior second-rate shabby unwell ass bad base below par bottom-shelf BTEC bum cheap cheap and nasty cheapshit cheesy chintzy coffee-and crap crappo crappy craptastic crapperific craptabulous craptacular

From Scots roupy (“husky; hoarse”), from Scots roup (“hoarseness, huskiness, any inflamed condition of the throat”).