A lariat is a shackle made of rope that is thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. It is a well-known implement of the Spanish and Mexican cowboys, which was later adopted by American cowboys. The word lasso can also be used as a verb; to lasso is to wrap a rope loop around anything. Lassos are not only used by the Native Americans; relief carvings from the ancient Egyptian temple of Pharaoh Seti I at Abydos, constructed around 1280 BC, depict the pharaoh holding a lasso and then a bull bound around the horns.

In reindeer herding, they were also utilized by Tatars and are still used by Sami and Finns. A lasso called a uurga (Mongolian: уурa) is used in Mongolia, and it consists of a rope loop at the end of a long pole.