A lasso (or ), also referred to as a lariat, riata, or reata (all from Spanish la reata),'s a loop of rope that's designed to be thrown around a target and tighten when pulled. It's a well-known tool of the American cowboy. The word's also a verb; to lasso's to successfully throw the loop of rope around something. When referring to the entire length of rope used, before or after a loop's formed, the rope itself's more properly called a lariat. Many cowboys simply call it a "rope." A lariat's ma… (More on Lasso)