Stropping

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The practice of enhancing the sharpness of an instrument by sliding it against a flexible surface made of leather or similar material
2. The method of improving the cutting quality of a blade through regular contact with a soft, pliable surface for edge maintenance
3. Sharpening a blade by gently rubbing it on a soft leather surface to refine its edge

Etymology: The verb "strop" for sharpening a blade was first recorded in English in 1842, but the noun it grew from is far older. "Strop" itself is the same word as "strap," and it has been in English since 1702, referring to the leather strip a barber or razor user drew a blade across. The idea is simple: a strap of leather was the tool, and sharpening was what you did with it. Stropping, then, is the act of drawing a razor or knife back and forth over that leather to realign and polish its edge. Moving the blade across a soft, slightly abrasive surface smooths out the tiny bends that dull an edge, which is why a barber might strop a razor between shaves rather than honing it on stone.

Synonyms: sharpening, honing, polishing