What it means
ریسمان (risman) is the common Persian word for a rope or cord, particularly one that has been spun or twisted rather than braided synthetically. It derives from the verb ریسیدن (risidan, to spin thread or fiber), a pure Persian root found in Middle Persian as well. The word is neutral in register and fits both everyday speech and literary contexts. طناب (tanâb) is a near synonym used for heavier rope or rigging, while نخ (nakh) refers to fine thread, making ریسمان the midpoint between the two.
How to use it
- یک ریسمان محکم بیاور. (Yek risman-e mohkam biâvar.) “Bring a strong rope.”
- بار رو با ریسمان بستن. (Bâr ro bâ risman bastan.) “They tied the load down with a rope.”
- ریسمان پاره شد و بسته افتاد. (Risman pâre shod o baste oftâd.) “The rope snapped and the bundle fell.”
- در قدیم ریسمان از پشم میریسیدند. (Dar qadim risman az pashm mi-risidand.) “In the old days rope was spun from wool.”
Cultural note
Rope-making was a vital craft in traditional Iranian agriculture and trade. Farmers used ریسمان to bundle harvested crops, secure loads on pack animals, and tie irrigation gates. The craft of spinning fiber into rope, ریسیدن, gave the word its name and was often women’s work in village settings. The word also carries metaphorical weight in Persian literature: a ریسمان connecting two points can symbolize a fragile bond or a lifeline, and the saying that a liar’s rope is short uses the image to warn against deception.