ropeable

adj.

1) Of cattle; so wild andintractable as to be capable of subjection only by being roped.See preceding word.

2) By transference: intractable, angry, out of temper.

1891. `The Argus,' Oct. 10, p. 13, col. 4:

«The service has shown itself so `ropeable' heretofore thatone experiences now a kind of chastened satisfaction in seeingit roped and dragged captive at Sir Frederick's saddle-bow.»

1896. Modern. In school-boy slang: «You must not chaff him,he gets so ropeable.»