devil's rope

== English == === Pronunciation === === Noun === devil's rope (countable and uncountable, plural devil's ropes) Mortal sin. An open branching shrub (Cylindropuntia imbricata) with cylindrical joints, which are covered with short raised ridges like the plait of a rope. A variety of cochineal, (Dactylopius newsteadi), used to destroy Cylindropuntia imbricata. (US, southwest, slang) Barbed wire