Films about cowboys are a storehouse of vivid impressions. They intertwine historical background, colorful characters, a memorable plot with elements of an action movie and a detective story. But the most interesting thing is to watch the brave heroes who can easily manage shooting from a revolver, riding horses and with such an unusual tool as a lasso. This noticeable rope with a loop causes sincere delight and a desire to repeat at least some of the tricks shown on the screen. Where did the original object come from and why is it named that way?
Language difficulties
The stumbling block for novice fans of the Wild West is the translation into Russian. To throw a lasso on someone is to lasso. The terms sound different and don't seem to be related at all. Why did it happen? The concept under study was formed on the basis of the French lasso, which appeared as an attempt to transcribe the Spanish lazo. The original was the Latin "loop" or laques. Synonyms for them that are relevant in the 21st century are:
- lariat;
- lasso.
In Russian, the verbs associated with the capture are formed precisely from the second word. Regardlessdefinition used in relation to the fishing gear itself.
Rope story
It's not just about the equipment of artists at modern rodeos. Initially, they mean a long rope up to 30 m long with a specially arranged loop at the end. The rope is usually woven from straps, wool, or horsehair to obtain sufficient density of the material: this helps to avoid constriction at the moment of throwing. The word "lasso" arose in the Spanish-speaking colonies, spread from South America. Used in relation to Aboriginal weapons:
- for capturing horses;
- when hunting buffalo;
- used in combat.
After throwing, the rope is pulled tight and the noose is tightly compressed around the neck, preventing the victim from escaping. Similar gear was found in the countries of the Ancient East, was used by almost all the nomadic peoples of Asia, who were forced to regularly catch cattle.
Today the focus has shifted. In Mexico and the United States, an organic part of the culture is the lasso from the "cowboy sport", where tricks with the rotation of the lasso demonstrate the agility and endurance of the participant, his ability to control every movement of the rope.
In everyday communication
It is not easy to hear the original term on the streets of domestic cities. Some contemporaries are not even aware of the existence of such a concept, others have only read or seen in westerns. Therefore, the "lasso" is an element of the romantic image of the dashing Americanguy. It is rare to hear a familiar word when discussing a support option in figure skating, but such a specialized definition is even rarer.
