1523 J. Skelton 833 From the anker he kutteth the gabyll rope.
1556 in J. G. Nichols (1852) 53 At the west ende of Powlles stepull was tayed a cabelle roppe.
1711 No. 4882/3 About sixty Fathom of Cable Rope, about nine Inches Circumference.
1838 J. F. Cooper (1873) xix. 316 You will confer an especial favor on me by not using such phrases as cable-rope... No sea-man uses them.