drop-comb. form
the verb-stem used in compounds.
1. attributive with noun, in the sense ‘dropping’, ‘used in dropping’, ‘arranged so as to drop’, forming substantives or adjectives.
a.
drop-ladder n.
Brit. 
/ˈdrɒpˌladə/
, /ˈdrɒpˌladə/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌlædər/
/ˈdrɑpˌlædər/ΚΠ
1895 Westm. Gaz. 28 Sept. 2/1 The drop-ladder was all burnt now, an' the flames pouring out of the trapdoor.
drop-leap n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpliːp/
, /ˈdrɒpliːp/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌlip/
/ˈdrɑpˌlip/ΚΠ
1885 R. F. Burton tr. Arabian Nights' Entertainm. I. i. 6 [He] sprang with a drop-leap from one of the trees.
drop-ring n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒprɪŋ/
, /ˈdrɒprɪŋ/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌrɪŋ/
/ˈdrɑpˌrɪŋ/ΚΠ
1883 Standard 28 Mar. 5/2 Thence it [bearing-rein] passes through the drop-ring.
drop-shade n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpʃeɪd/
, /ˈdrɒpʃeɪd/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌʃeɪd/
/ˈdrɑpˌʃeɪd/ΚΠ
1887 Scribner's Mag. 1 632/1 The drop-shades were of thick light-blue paper.
drop-stile n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpstʌɪl/
, /ˈdrɒpstʌɪl/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌstaɪl/
/ˈdrɑpˌstaɪl/ΚΠ
1791 W. Jessop Rep. River Witham 14 Gates and Drop-stiles in the cross Fences.
drop-wave n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpweɪv/
, /ˈdrɒpweɪv/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌweɪv/
/ˈdrɑpˌweɪv/ΚΠ
1889 J. M. Duncan Clin. Lect. Dis. Women (ed. 4) xxxiii. 276 There may be on one side no..rhythmic drop-wave.
b. ‘Arranged so as to drop or let down’; esp. forming compounds with parts of furniture.
drop-end n. and adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpɛnd/
, /ˈdrɒpɛnd/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌɛnd/
/ˈdrɑpˌɛnd/ΚΠ
1928 Daily Mail 31 July 1/2 Settee has drop end.
1960 Measurement of Spectacles (B.S.I.) 18 Dimensions of drop-end sides.
drop-front adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpfrʌnt/
, /ˈdrɒpfrʌnt/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌfrənt/
/ˈdrɑpˌfrənt/ΚΠ
1934 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Drop-front adj., of a desk, having a part of the front formed by a hinged lid or cover which may be lowered to form a writing table.
1951 Good Housek. Home Encycl. 74/2 Two types of door, the drop-front and the side opening, are available.
drop-shelf n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpʃɛlf/
, /ˈdrɒpʃɛlf/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌʃɛlf/
/ˈdrɑpˌʃɛlf/ΚΠ
1905 Daily Chron. 16 Feb. 8/5 A drop-shelf, with chains attached to one of the panels.
drop-side n. and adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpsʌɪd/
, /ˈdrɒpsʌɪd/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌsaɪd/
/ˈdrɑpˌsaɪd/ΚΠ
1907–8 T. Eaton & Co. Catal. Fall–Winter 243/3 Child's iron and brass cot,..drop sides with brass top rails.
1959 B.S.I. News Apr. 18/1 Suitable forms of fastening devices for the drop side have been specified, with the intention of preventing the child from lowering it.
1962 Engineering 28 Dec. 839 Dropsides and tailboards for lorries have been made from bonded metal.
1963 Which? Jan. 13 A drop-side cot is probably used more continuously than any other piece of nursery furniture.
drop-window n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌwɪndəʊ/
, /ˈdrɒpˌwɪndəʊ/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌwɪndoʊ/
/ˈdrɑpˌwɪndoʊ/ΚΠ
1901 Daily News 3 Jan. 6/4 A door with window, and on either side of the latter a drop window.
1926 Glasgow Herald 26 June 9 The drop-windows permit of ready means of ventilation on warm days.
2.
drop-arch n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpɑːtʃ/
, /ˈdrɒpɑːtʃ/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌɑrtʃ/
(see quot.)./ˈdrɑpˌɑrtʃ/ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > other types of arch
bowOE
craba1387
cove1511
triumphal arch (arc)a1566
straight arch1663
pointed arch1688
rough arch1693
jack-arch1700
oxi1700
raking arch1711
flat arch1715
scheme-arch1725
counter-arch1726
ox-eye arch1736
surbased dome1763
ogee1800
rising arch1809
sub-arch1811
deaf arch1815
four-centred arch1815
mixed arch1815
Tudor arch1815
camber1823
lancet arch1823
invert1827
platband1828
pier arch1835
ogive1841
scoinson arch1842
segment1845
skew arch1845
drop-arch1848
equilateral arch1848
lancet1848
rear arch1848
straining-arch1848
tierceron1851
shouldered arch1853
archlet1862
segment-arch1887
1848 J. H. Parker Rickman's Styles Archit. Eng. (ed. 5) 50 Drop arches..have a radius shorter than the breadth of the arch.
drop-bar n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpbɑː/
, /ˈdrɒpbɑː/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌbɑr/
(a) one of the vertical bars connecting the chain and the roadway in a suspension bridge; (b) (Printing), a bar or roller for running the sheet into the machine./ˈdrɑpˌbɑr/ΚΠ
1823 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. Oct. 348/1 The drop bars are rods of..iron, which fall through the joints of the main chains.
1887 Clowes Printing Mach. in Proc. Inst. Civil Engineers 89 iii The dropbar feeding arrangement..a revolving steel bar, on which are fastened two disks..which can by means of screws be shifted to any position..to suit the sheet to be printed.
drop-bottom n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌbɒtəm/
, /ˈdrɒpˌbɒtəm/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌbɑdəm/
(see quots.)./ˈdrɑpˌbɑdəm/ΚΠ
1795 W. Felton Treat. Carriages II. (Gloss.) 218 Drop Bottom, the bottom of a coach, chariot, or chaise body when sunk deeper than the surface of the framing, to give room.
1835 A. Ure Philos. Manuf. 44 It raises the coals..and delivers them on an elevated railway platform into a waggon—through the drop-bottom of which they are duly distributed among the range of hoppers attached to Stanley's ingenious furnace-feeding machines.
drop-cake n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpkeɪk/
, /ˈdrɒpkeɪk/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌkeɪk/
originally U.S. a small cake made by letting batter drop from a spoon into hot fat, or on a greased pan to be baked in an oven./ˈdrɑpˌkeɪk/ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > cake > [noun] > a cake > griddle cake > scone > dropped scone
Scotch pancake1767
drop-cake1835
drop-scone1899
pikelet1905
1835 Liberator (Boston) 5 Dec. 196/5 The travellers on whom I bestowed your drop cakes.
1879 M. E. Braddon Vixen II. ix. 151 Trimmer's drop-cakes..are always capital.
drop-cannon n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌkanən/
, /ˈdrɒpˌkanən/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌkænən/
Billiards a variety of cannon./ˈdrɑpˌkænən/ΚΠ
1904 J. P. Mannock & S. A. Mussabini Billiards Expounded I. 336 The plain ‘drop cannon’ which is employed to gather the balls between the two top pockets.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 2 Feb. 12/3 He unexpectedly missed a rather wide drop-cannon from hand.
drop-curls n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpkəːlz/
, /ˈdrɒpkəːlz/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌkərlz/
dialect dropping curls, ringlets./ˈdrɑpˌkərlz/ΚΠ
1880 M. A. Courtney W. Cornwall Words in M. A. Courtney & T. Q. Couch Gloss. Words Cornwall 19/1 Drop-curls, ringlets.
drop-curtain n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌkəːtn/
, /ˈdrɒpˌkəːtn/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌkərtn/
= drop n. 16./ˈdrɑpˌkərtn/ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > theatrical equipment or accessories > [noun] > curtain
curtain1598
drop1781
iron curtain1794
green curtain1805
greeny1821
tableau curtain1830
drop-curtain1832
rag1848
hipping1858
cloth1881
safety curtain1881
asbestos curtain1890
olio1923
tab1929
sail curtain1941
iron1951
swag1959
1832 Examiner 85/1 There is a new drop-curtain, painted in crimson.
1857 C. Dickens Let. 17 Aug. (1995) VIII. 412 In order that the piece may be played through, without having the Drop Curtain down.
drop-down adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpdaʊn/
, /ˈdrɒpdaʊn/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌdaʊn/
designed to drop or let down (see also quot. drop- comb. form)./ˈdrɑpˌdaʊn/ΚΠ
1934 H. Addison Text Bk. Appl. Hydraulics viii. 137 (heading) Falling surface or drop-down curves.
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 267/2 Drop-down curve (Hyd. Eng.), the longitudinal profile of the water surface in the case of non-uniform flow in an open channel, when the water surface is not parallel to the invert.
1951 Festival of Brit.: Catal. Exhibits: South Bank Exhib. (H.M.S.O.) 36/2 Gas cooker..with drop-down door.
drop-drill n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpdrɪl/
, /ˈdrɒpdrɪl/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌdrɪl/
a drill which sows seed and manure together./ˈdrɑpˌdrɪl/ΚΠ
1847 Raynbird in Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 8 i. 215 Using a drop-drill.
drop-flue adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpfluː/
, /ˈdrɒpfluː/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌflu/
of a boiler, in which the flues drop or descend./ˈdrɑpˌflu/ΚΠ
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Drop-flue Boiler..the object being to cause [the heat] to leave the boiler at the lower part, where the feed~water is introduced.
drop-fly n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpflʌɪ/
, /ˈdrɒpflʌɪ/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌflaɪ/
Angling see quot. 1870 (= dropper n. 3)./ˈdrɑpˌflaɪ/ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > means of attracting fish > [noun] > artificial fly > one of a number on line
dropper1829
bob-fly1832
dropper-fly1834
bobber1837
stretcher1837
drop-fly1870
stretcher-fly1883
tail-fly1883
1870 Blaine's Encycl. Rural Sports (rev. ed.) §2969 When more than one fly is used in fly-fishing, the additional one is called a drop-fly, and by some a bob..As these flies drop or hang down from the line, so they gain their name of drop-flies.
drop-foot n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpfʊt/
, /ˈdrɒpfʊt/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌfʊt/
= foot-drop n. at foot n. and int. Compounds 3./ˈdrɑpˌfʊt/ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of visible parts > [noun] > disorders of extremities > of the foot
foot evil1562
buniona1718
onion1785
Madura foot1855
fallen arch1858
claw-foot1862
foot-drop1886
tarsalgia1890
Morton's metatarsalgia1891
fallen instep1904
Madura disease1904
trench foot1915
maduromycosis1916
drop-foot1921
immersion foot1941
1921 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Med. Jrnl. Apr. 118 (title) Tendon fixation of drop foot.
1924 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 82 30/1 (caption) Shoe modified for the drop-foot brace.
1925 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 85 1927/1 Drop-foot is the inability to dorsiflex the ankle joint or foot, and is the result of any agent that impairs or abolishes the muscular power in the anterior group of leg muscles.
1962 Gray's Anat. (ed. 33) 1212 Paralysis of all the dorsiflexor and evertor muscles of the foot..producing a ‘drop foot’.
drop-forge v.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpfɔːdʒ/
, /ˈdrɒpfɔːdʒ/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌfɔrdʒ/
v. trans. (in quot. transferred)./ˈdrɑpˌfɔrdʒ/ΚΠ
1925 Glasgow Herald 15 Jan. 8 A mass of dough, kneaded, drop-forged, or otherwise assembled into a solid entity.
drop-forged adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpfɔːdʒd/
, /ˈdrɒpfɔːdʒd/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌfɔrdʒd/
/ˈdrɑpˌfɔrdʒd/ΚΠ
1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 555/2 Cold drawn steel tubing, with steel drop forged crown.
1897 Westm. Gaz. 7 Jan. 7/2 Cleeks and irons made of drop-forged steel.
drop-forger n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌfɔːdʒə/
, /ˈdrɒpˌfɔːdʒə/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌfɔrdʒər/
/ˈdrɑpˌfɔrdʒər/ΚΠ
1957 Economist 7 Dec. 897/1 The drop forgers and specialised ironfoundries.
drop-forging n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌfɔːdʒɪŋ/
, /ˈdrɒpˌfɔːdʒɪŋ/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌfɔrdʒɪŋ/
forging in which a heavy weight is repeatedly dropped on to heated metal, forcing it into a die; also, a forging made by this method./ˈdrɑpˌfɔrdʒɪŋ/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [noun] > forging or shaping > types or methods of
planishing1361
malleationc1429
flatting1611
gold beating1621
shingling1674
skelping1803
upsetting1815
swaging1832
drop-forginga1884
dinging1923
upending1932
a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 277/2 Drop forging, one made in that form of press in which the blow is by impact instead of by mere pressure.
1897 Outing 30 278/2 The hammers that are pounding out the drop-forgings.
1909 Engineer 107 277 Drop forgings are cheaper and more accurate than hand forgings.
1925 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. 111 527 Recent developments in drop-forging practice.
1959 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 191 94/3 Calculating the power required in drop forging.
drop-frame n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpfreɪm/
, /ˈdrɒpfreɪm/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌfreɪm/
(a) a frame designed to drop or let down; (b) a bicycle frame having the top bar lowered or depressed./ˈdrɑpˌfreɪm/ΚΠ
1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 555/1 This machine..has our patent duplex drop frame for ladies' use.
1898 Westm. Gaz. 18 Nov. 9/1 In Professor Lilly's triangulated frame will be found an attempt by a skilled engineer to overcome the ‘drop’-frame difficulty.
1906 Bazaar, Exchange & Mart 12 Oct. Suppl. 1481/2 Gentleman's cycle, 23 in. drop frame.
1928 Daily Tel. 16 Oct. 7 Another feature demanded by lady drivers is a drop-frame for the divisional window between the front and rear seats.
drop-framed adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpfreɪmd/
, /ˈdrɒpfreɪmd/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌfreɪmd/
/ˈdrɑpˌfreɪmd/ΚΠ
1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 290/2 The drop-framed safety rendered cycling..pleasurable.
drop-glass n. /ˈdrɒpɡlas/,
Brit. /ˈdrɒpɡlɑːs/
, /ˈdrɒpɡlɑːs//ˈdrɒpɡlas/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌɡlæs/
a dropping tube or pipette used for dropping liquid into the eye or other part./ˈdrɑpˌɡlæs/Thesaurus »
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drop-hammer n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌhamə/
, /ˈdrɒpˌhamə/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌhæmər/
= drop-press n./ˈdrɑpˌhæmər/ drop-handle adj. and n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌhandl/
, /ˈdrɒpˌhandl/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌhænd(ə)l/
(a) adj. applied to a form of needle-telegraph instrument which is operated by a handle directed downward; (b) n. a handle to a drawer, door, etc., that hangs down when it is not held in the hand./ˈdrɑpˌhænd(ə)l/ΚΠ
1876 W. H. Preece & J. Sivewright Telegraphy §48 There are two forms of the single needle instrument in use, viz. the drop-handle and the pedal or tapper form.
1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 383/2 Drawer drop handles.
1898 J. P. Arkwright Cabinet-making 84/2 Brass drop handles..look well.
1940 Antiquity 14 69 Three angons were actually pushed through the drop handle of the larger bowl.
1967 Gloss. Terms Builders' Hardware (B.S.I.) iv. 11 Drop handle, any handle pivoted to a plate or spindle so that it falls by gravity to a vertical position when not in use.
drop-handlebars n.
Brit. /ˌdrɒpˈhandlbɑːz/
, /ˌdrɒpˈhandlbɑːz/U.S. /ˌdrɑpˈhændlˌbɑrz/
bicycle handlebars which have the handles lower than the rest of the bar (cf. quot. 1898 at handlebar n. 2 and dropped adj. 1d)./ˌdrɑpˈhændlˌbɑrz/ΚΠ
1937 M. Allingham Dancers in Mourning xix. 243 He then turned the bike sideways, showed off the drop handlebars with the special grips.
drop-initial n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpᵻˌnɪʃl/
, /ˈdrɒpᵻˌnɪʃl/U.S. /ˈdrɑpᵻˌnɪʃ(ə)l/
(see quot. 1951)./ˈdrɑpᵻˌnɪʃ(ə)l/ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > printed matter > printed character(s) > [noun] > upper case or capital > large capital
transcendent1602
drop-letter1894
drop-initial1951
1951 Bookman's Gloss. (R. R. Bowker Co.) (ed. 3) 54 Drop initials, initial letters as tall as two or more lines of text, which lines are indented to allow room.
1963 Punch 9 Oct. 528/2 Elegant drop-initials three inches deep.
drop-jaw n. /ˈdrɑpˌdʒɑ/ the canine disease of paralytic rabies.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpdʒɔː/
, /ˈdrɒpdʒɔː/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌdʒɔ/
, /ˈdrɑpˌdʒɔ//ˈdrɑpˌdʒɑ/ΚΠ
1900 Yearbk. U.S. Dept. Agric. 233 The dumb form of rabies is very common, and many persons know it as ‘drop jaw’ who have no idea of its true nature.
drop-keel n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpkiːl/
, /ˈdrɒpkiːl/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌkil/
a movable keel which can be lowered below the bottom of a boat; a centre-board./ˈdrɑpˌkil/ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > bottom or part under water > [noun] > keel and kelson > keel > types of
sliding keel1797
centreboard1828
bilge-keel1850
ram1851
rocker1859
sidebar keel1869
bar-keel1874
plate-keel1874
bilge-piece1880
fin1885
bulb-keel1893
fin-keel1893
ballast fin1894
bulb-fin1894
plate1895
drop-keel1896
1896 Westm. Gaz. 12 May 2/1 To steady the boat still further, it carries a water ballast, or a drop-keel.
drop-knee n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpniː/
, /ˈdrɒpniː/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌni/
Surfing (see quot. 1967)./ˈdrɑpˌni/ΚΠ
1967 J. Severson Great Surfing Gloss. Drop-knee, a type of turn where both knees are bent—the trail leg crossed behind the lead leg with the trail-leg knee dropped closer to the board than the knee of the lead leg.
1970 Surf '70 (N.Z.) 37/2 I found I had to change from a drop knee turn to a turn with both knees bent and my weight behind my legs.
drop-lamp n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒplamp/
, /ˈdrɒplamp/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌlæmp/
(U.S.), a portable gas-burner, connected with the gas-fittings by a flexible tube, usually in the form of a lamp, which can stand on a table; cf. drop n. 18./ˈdrɑpˌlæmp/ΚΠ
1870 H. E. P. Spofford Pilot's Wife in Harper's New Monthly Mag. Nov. 861/2 When dark came we would light the drop-lamp.
1891 Cent. Mag. Apr. 940 A long discussion..was held..between the young people sitting by the drop-lamp.
drop-leaf adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpliːf/
, /ˈdrɒpliːf/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌlif/
designating a table or desk having a hinged flap at the end or side which can be raised to extend the surface area./ˈdrɑpˌlif/ΚΠ
1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 609/2 Men's drop leaf desk.
1966 A. W. Lewis Gloss. Woodworking Terms 45 The hinge is recessed into the face of the job, e.g. on bureau falls and on drop-leaf tables.
drop-light n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒplʌɪt/
, /ˈdrɒplʌɪt/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌlaɪt/
(a) = drop-lamp n.; (b) an electric light suspended from the ceiling./ˈdrɑpˌlaɪt/ΚΠ
1861 Harper's Mag. Nov. 815/2 The dark, bright Spanish woman, on the alabaster shade of the drop-light.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Drop-light.
1890 Cent. Mag. Mar. 764/1 Reading a calf-bound volume at a drop-light.
1902 T. Eaton & Co. Catal. Spring–Summer 218/4 Electric drop-light shade.
1904 K. C. Thurston John Chilcote viii The drop-light from the ceiling being directly above his head.
drop-line n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒplʌɪn/
, /ˈdrɒplʌɪn/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌlaɪn/
(a) = drop n. 22; (b) U.S. a hand-line used in fishing./ˈdrɑpˌlaɪn/ΚΠ
1847 C. Lanman Summer in Wilderness xxvi. 158 I..with a drop-line have taken, in twenty minutes, more trout than I could eat in a fortnight.
1882 J. E. Cussans Handbk. Heraldry (ed. 3) xxi. 282 It frequently happens when Pedigrees are printed, that space forbids such an arrangement, and that drop-lines are obliged to be used... The drop-line..shows that Margaret is sister to John and William.
drop-off n. /ˈdrɑpˌɑf/ an act of dropping off (see to drop off at drop v. Phrasal verbs); spec. a diminution; also attributive.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpɒf/
, /ˈdrɒpɒf/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌɔf/
, /ˈdrɑpˌɔf//ˈdrɑpˌɑf/ΚΠ
1925 Duo-Art Reproducing Piano: Service Man. (Aeolian Co.) 14 Drop-off screw.
1952 Time 21 Apr. Drop-off point, place where copies of Time come off a plane, train or truck.
1958 College Eng. 20 16/2 There is no drop-off in volume.
1959 Times 31 Jan. 6/1 The rocket engines are fuelled by a mixture of liquid oxygen and ammonia representing about half the drop-off weight of 31,275 lb.
drop-pattern n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌpatn/
, /ˈdrɒpˌpatn/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌpædərn/
(see quot.)./ˈdrɑpˌpædərn/ΚΠ
1897 C. Stephenson & F. Suddards Textbk. Orn. Design Woven Fabrics iv. 49 This placing or ‘dropping’ of one diamond below another..gives the essence of the drop pattern.
drop-press n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpprɛs/
, /ˈdrɒpprɛs/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌprɛs/
/ˈdrɑpˌprɛs/ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > metalworking equipment > [noun] > stamping machine or press
coining press1688
punching press1828
stamp1839
stamping-machine1839
punch press1853
stamping-press1858
drop-hammer1864
drop-press1864
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Drop-press, a machine for embossing, punching, etc., consisting of a weight guided vertically, to be raised by a cord and pulley worked by the foot, and to drop on an anvil; called also drop-hammer, or simply a drop.
drop-repeat n. /ˈdrɑpriˌpit/ (see quots.).
Brit. /ˈdrɒprᵻpiːt/
, /ˈdrɒprᵻpiːt/U.S. /ˈdrɑprəˌpit/
, /ˈdrɑprəˌpit//ˈdrɑpriˌpit/ΚΠ
1888 W. Crane Arts & Crafts Catal. 42 One way of concealing the joints of the repeat of the pattern is by..a drop-repeat, so that, in hanging, the paper-hanger, instead of placing each repeat of pattern side by side, is enabled to join the pattern at a point its own depth below, which..arranges the chief features or masses on an alternating plan.
drop-roller n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌrəʊlə/
, /ˈdrɒpˌrəʊlə/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌroʊlər/
= drop-bar n. (b)./ˈdrɑpˌroʊlər/ drop-scone n. /ˈdrɒpskɒn/, /ˈdrɑpˌskɑn/ (see scone n. 1).
Brit. /ˈdrɒpskəʊn/
, /ˈdrɒpskəʊn//ˈdrɒpskɒn/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌskoʊn/
, /ˈdrɑpˌskoʊn//ˈdrɑpˌskɑn/ drop-service n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌsəːvɪs/
, /ˈdrɒpˌsəːvɪs/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌsərvəs/
Tennis a service which causes the ball to drop sharply after it passes the net./ˈdrɑpˌsərvəs/ΚΠ
1898 Kennedy & Cohen in W. A. Morgan ‘House’ on Sport 420 Saunders..relied on his..drop service.
1962 Times 8 Jan. 3/7 His cramping drop-service..just gave him the edge.
drop-shot n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpʃɒt/
, /ˈdrɒpʃɒt/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌʃɑt/
= drop-stroke n. (see also drop n. Compounds 1)./ˈdrɑpˌʃɑt/ΚΠ
1908 Captain Aug. 453/1 They never practice its [sc. the lob's] antithesis, the drop-shot.
1927 Observer 20 Mar. 27/3 Mixing up deep drives and clever drop-shots.
1963 Times 19 Jan. 3/3 He reached the first drop shot only at its second bounce.
drop-shutter n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌʃʌtə/
, /ˈdrɒpˌʃʌtə/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌʃədər/
a device for securing very brief exposure in instantaneous photography; see quot./ˈdrɑpˌʃədər/ΚΠ
1890 W. de W. Abney Treat. Photogr. (ed. 6) 235 The principle of a drop~shutter is the passing of an elongated aperture, cut in a board, over the front of the lens.
dropsonde n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpsɒnd/
, /ˈdrɒpsɒnd/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌsɑnd/
a radiosonde dropped from an aircraft to measure weather conditions during its descent./ˈdrɑpˌsɑnd/ΚΠ
1946 Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc. 27 162/1 Droppable radiosondes..can be dropped by parachute; they emit radio signals... The accuracy of the resulting..data is comparable with similar data from the usual radiosondes... These ‘drop~sondes’ should be quite valuable.
1951 in Meteorol. Abstr. (1952) III. 6 (title) Dropsonde observations.
1963 New Scientist 14 Nov. 396/3 A ‘dropsonde’ to measure low densities and temperatures.
1968 G. M. B. Dobson Exploring Atmosphere (ed. 2) ii. 19 The instrument is carried up on a small rocket to a height of about 70 km and there released, when it descends on a large parachute... Such instruments are sometimes known as drop-sondes.
drop-stitch n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpstɪtʃ/
, /ˈdrɒpstɪtʃ/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌstɪtʃ/
an openwork pattern in knitted garments made by dropping a made stitch at intervals./ˈdrɑpˌstɪtʃ/ΚΠ
1890 in Amer. Mail Order Fashions (1961) 12 Ladies' Black Spun Silk Hose, drop stitch.
1905 Smart Set Oct. 9/2 Kind o' openwork, like a lady's drop-stitch sock.
1923 Daily Mail 29 June 1/2 (advt.) French Lisle Thread Stockings..Dropstitch design.
drop-stroke n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpstrəʊk/
, /ˈdrɒpstrəʊk/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌstroʊk/
in tennis, rackets, badminton, etc., a stroke that causes the ball or shuttlecock to drop sharply after crossing the net or striking the wall./ˈdrɑpˌstroʊk/ΚΠ
1897 H. W. W. Wilberforce Lawn Tennis xi. 39 The cross-drop stroke is considerably easier to make backhand from the backhand court.
1898 F. S. Cokayne & H. D. L. Gower in W. A. Morgan ‘House’ on Sport 254 A ‘drop’ stroke [in rackets] is a return so soft that it hardly comes off the front wall at all.
drop-table n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌteɪbl/
, /ˈdrɒpˌteɪbl/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌteɪb(ə)l/
(see quot.)./ˈdrɑpˌteɪb(ə)l/ΚΠ
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Drop-table, a machine for lowering weights, and especially for removing the wheels of locomotives.
drop-tank n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒptaŋk/
, /ˈdrɒptaŋk/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌtæŋk/
Aeronautics a (fuel-)tank that can be detached and dropped in flight./ˈdrɑpˌtæŋk/ΚΠ
1946 J. W. R. Taylor & M. F. Allward Spitfire 102/2 By carrying a belly drop tank the range could be increased to around 2,000 miles.
1961 B. Fergusson Watery Maze xvi. 397 Drop tanks full of water were flown by a Skyraider from H.M.S. Albion.
1971 Air Pictorial 33 135/1 In-flight refuelling capability and up to six 600-gal. external drop-tanks can probably double this figure.
drop-title n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌtʌɪtl/
, /ˈdrɒpˌtʌɪtl/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌtaɪd(ə)l/
a title which is set comparatively low on the page./ˈdrɑpˌtaɪd(ə)l/ΚΠ
1893 T. J. Wise & J. P. Smart Bibliogr. Ruskin I. 189 There is no title-page, the ‘drop-title’ on page 1 reading ‘Memorandum of Association of the Guild of St. George’.
drop-volley n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌvɒli/
, /ˈdrɒpˌvɒli/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌvɑli/
a volleyed drop-stroke./ˈdrɑpˌvɑli/ΚΠ
1907 Westm. Gaz. 9 Nov. 12/3 The drop-volley..was one of her favourite strokes.
1927 Daily Express 4 May 13/7 She would leap forward and summarily cut short the rally with a deft drop-volley.
drop-worm n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpwəːm/
, /ˈdrɒpwəːm/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌwərm/
the larva of any of various moths, which drop from trees by a thread of silk./ˈdrɑpˌwərm/ΚΠ
1862 T. W. Harris Treat. Insects Injurious to Vegetation (ed. 3) 415 In Philadelphia and the vicinity, cases of a similar kind [sc. an Oiketicus] are very common on many of the trees,..which are often very much injured by the insects inhabiting them. These are there popularly called drop-worms and basket-worms.
drop-wrist n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒprɪst/
, /ˈdrɒprɪst/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌrɪst/
= wrist-drop n. at wrist n. Compounds 4; (cf. quot. 1893 at dropped adj. 1a)./ˈdrɑpˌrɪst/ΚΠ
1860 R. J. Jordan Dis. Skin 18 Painters..become affected with ‘lead-colic’ and ‘drop-wrist’, from having to do with white lead.
1902 H. J. Stiles in D. J. Cunningham Text-bk. Anat. 1203 The condition known as ‘drop-wrist’, the result of paralysis of the extensor muscles of the forearm.
3. In verbal combinations with object.† drop-piss n. Obsolete strangury.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > urinary disorders > [noun] > difficulty in urination
dysury1398
chaudpissea1400
strangurya1400
droppell-piss1527
strangullion1530
strangurion1547
suppression1564
drop-piss1578
hot piss1578
pain-piss1614
ischuria1675
paruria1822
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball i. xxviii. 41 The roote [of Dropwort] boyled in wine and dronken is good against the Droppisse, or Strangury.
drop-seed n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpsiːd/
, /ˈdrɒpsiːd/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌsid/
a grass that readily drops its seed, spec. Muhlenbergia diffusa ( Treasury Bot. 1866)./ˈdrɑpˌsid/ 4. In adverbial combination with an adjective.
drop-ripe adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒprʌɪp/
, /ˈdrɒprʌɪp/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌraɪp/
so ripe as to be ready to drop from the tree; also figurative./ˈdrɑpˌraɪp/ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > [adjective] > prepared or ready > mature or matured
digesta1398
ripea1398
fledge1398
concoct1534
seasoned1545
well-seasoned1545
ripened1561
seeded1567
fledged1579
thorough-seasoned1605
matured1626
well-matured1626
advanced1646
concocted1647
digested1657
well-digested1657
predigested1663
maturated1698
drop-ripe1724
well-developed1769
mellowed1798
fully-fledged1906
the world > plants > by age or cycles > [adjective] > ripe or ripened
ripedOE
ripeOE
mature?1440
cherry-ripec1450
coct1497
thorough ripe1534
well-ripened1559
ripened1561
mellowy1612
summer-ripea1670
augusted1675
drop-ripe1829
blood-ripe1846
enripened1855
1724 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 152 He was drop-ripe for heaven.
1829 A. Cunningham On Sir T. Lawrence in Anniversary 6 Lips like drop-ripe cherries cleft.
Draft additions June 2017
drop-volley v.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpˌvɒli/
, /ˈdrɒpˌvɒli/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌvɑli/
Tennis intransitive and transitive. To play a drop-volley./ˈdrɑpˌvɑli/ΚΠ
1891 Sheffield & Rotherham Independent 16 July 8/2 Amongst the prettiest things Davy does is to drop volley, an exceedingly effective stroke.
1924 G. W. Hillyard Forty Years Lawn Tennis iv. 89 A rapid step or two forward, a snap of the wrist, and behold he had drop volleyed that ball short over the net.
1976 Washington Post 19 Apr. c 5/5 He has..an instinctive feel for how a ball will feel when it is sliced, smashed, or drop-volleyed.
2008 Hobart (Tasmania) Mercury (Nexis) 26 Jan. 64 Tsonga either drove cannon-like winners into yawning gaps, or drop-volleyed with deadly accuracy.
Draft additions June 2017
drop-shot v.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpʃɒt/
, /ˈdrɒpʃɒt/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌʃɑt/
Tennis transitive. To use a drop shot against (an opponent). Frequently in passive./ˈdrɑpˌʃɑt/ΚΠ
1913 Manch. Guardian 9 June 9/3 Her fine forehand seemed to have deserted her and she was often successfully ‘drop-shotted’.
1960 Observer 24 Apr. 32/6 Miss Truman overhit, was passed, lobbed and drop shotted, and made to look heavy-footed.
2009 A. Agassi Open 37 I start drop-shotting him, trying to make him run on the bad ankle.
Draft additions June 2017
drop shot v.
Brit. /ˈdrɒp ʃɒt/
, /ˈdrɒp ʃɒt/U.S. /ˈdrɑp ˌʃɑt/
Tennis intransitive. To play a drop shot./ˈdrɑp ˌʃɑt/ΚΠ
1931 Washington Post 25 May 12/4 Shore drop-shotted the lobbed Mangan all but to distraction.
1977 Washington Post 25 June d 1/3 She can drop shot. And she looks exceptionally cool, posed, composed.
2008 P. Fein Tennis Confidential II xi. 92 The..Californian served powerfully and with an American twist, volleyed and smashed brilliantly, drop shotted cleverly, and covered the court swiftly.
Draft additions 1993
drop-off n. /ˈdrɑpˌɑf/ Originally and chiefly U.S. a steep descent or dropping away of the ground, on land or underwater; a declivity; also, the brink above this.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpɒf/
, /ˈdrɒpɒf/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌɔf/
, /ˈdrɑpˌɔf//ˈdrɑpˌɑf/ΚΠ
1923 C. F. Saunders Southern Sierras Calif. 204 It was a climb of many short turns and dizzy drop-offs.
1955 National Geographic Mag. July 85/1 A dizzying 13-mile drive up the mountainside, around hairpin curves, along harrowing dropoffs, had brought us from a valley floor elevation..to our present altitude.
1969 Guardian 8 Mar. 7/5 Beyond the dropoff of the continental shelf, the waters of the Indian Ocean are clear and dark blue.
1985 T. O'Brien Nucl. Age v. 86 There was the strange, somewhat dizzy sensation of moving blindfolded toward a steep drop-off.
Draft additions June 2006
drop safe n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒp seɪf/
, /ˈdrɒp seɪf/U.S. /ˈdrɑp ˌseɪf/
a safe built into a floor for extra security./ˈdrɑp ˌseɪf/ΚΠ
1970 Herald (Roselle, Illinois) 12 Oct. i.4 All receipts go into the drop safe.
2001 E. Schlosser Fast Food Nation iii. 85 The leading fast food chains have tried to reduce violent crime by spending millions on new security systems—video cameras, panic buttons, drop-safes, burglar alarms.
Draft additions January 2011
drop-down adj.
Brit. /ˈdrɒpdaʊn/
, /ˈdrɒpdaʊn/U.S. /ˈdrɑpˌdaʊn/
Computing (in a graphical user interface) designating a menu or list that appears underneath an element when the element is selected, esp. one that remains on display without having to be kept in position by the user; cf. pull-down adj. 2./ˈdrɑpˌdaʊn/ΚΠ
1984 InfoWorld 7 May 15/3 The 2.0 updated series of software will have features such as drop-down menus and commands on screen.
1995 Computer Weekly 10 Aug. 39/6 Useful too is the list of 100 new files at each site (available as a drop down list from the main page).
2005 Digital Photographer No. 31. 89/3 Use the drop-down menu to select the banner option.
Draft additions December 2016
drop goal n.
Brit. /ˈdrɒp ɡəʊl/
, /ˈdrɒp ɡəʊl/U.S. /ˈdrɑp ˌɡoʊl/
Rugby a goal scored in open play by drop-kicking the ball over the crossbar.In Rugby Union a drop goal scores three points; in Rugby League such a goal scores one point./ˈdrɑp ˌɡoʊl/ΚΠ
1864 Bell's Life in London 3 Dec. 3/6 High House obtained their first goal by a ‘drop’ kick from Mr. Yates... They were gradually driven back until a second ‘drop’ goal was obtained by Mr. Yates.
1905 St. Mary's Hosp. Gaz. Nov. 110/1 All the scoring with the exception of a pretty drop goal by Ollerhead resulted from fast following up.
1973 Times 11 Apr. 10/1 A beautiful drop goal off ruck ball.
2010 I. Macintosh Everything you wanted to know about Rugby (2012) iii. 40 Drop goals are difficult because the opposition will very rarely give you the time to take the ball, take aim and take the points.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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