Painter

pānt′ėr, n. a rope used to fasten a boat.— Cut the painter , to set adrift; Lazy painter , a small painter for use in fine weather only. [A corr. of M. E. panter , a fowler's noose, through O. Fr. from L. panther , a hunting-net—Gr. panthēros , catching all— pan , neut. of pas , every, thēr , wild beast.]