Exhibit 5.1


                            [ROPES & GRAY LETTERHEAD]

                                December 18, 2001



The Timberland Company
200 Domain Drive
Stratham, New Hampshire  03885

     Re: 1997 INCENTIVE PLAN

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     This opinion is furnished to you in connection with a registration
statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, for the registration of an additional 2,000,000 shares of
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, (the "Shares") of The
Timberland Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") to be offered and
sold under the Company's 1997 Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

     We have acted as counsel to the Company and are familiar with the actions
taken by the Company in connection with the Plan. For purposes of this opinion
we have examined the Plan and other documents records, certificates and other
instruments as we have deemed necessary.

     We express no opinion as to the applicability of compliance with or effect
of Federal law or the law of any jurisdiction other than the Delaware General
Corporation Law.

     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been
duly authorized and when the Shares have been issued and sold and consideration
received therefor by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan, they
will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to your filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.

     It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection with
the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect.


                                       Very truly yours,

                                       /s/ Ropes & Gray

                                       Ropes & Gray