proppern.
/ˈprɒpə/, U.S. /ˈprɑpər/ A person who or thing which props something or someone. Frequently with up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun] > that which or one who supports > one who
uptakera1340
holder-upc1374
upbearer1387
bearera1398
undernimmera1400
weighera1400
upholderc1403
ally1406
allya1431
godfather?1541
propper1549
tower of strength1549
backer1583
moyener?1591
backfriend1599
stayer1611
suppositor1629
susceptor1652
standby1712
bottle holder1788
understander1875
buddy1893
anchorman1895
backer-up1921
1549 J. Ponet Def. Mariage Priestes sig. C v The patchers & proppers vp of this Decree.
1634 J. Ford Perkin Warbeck iv. i. sig. Iv Such advantage Hath Majestie in its pursuite of Iustice, That on the proppers vp, of truths olde throne, It both enlightens counsell, and giues heart To execution.
1643 R. Hodges Special Help Orthogr. 7 The propper of it up, was a very proper man.
1759 Fortunate Imposter 22 The Lame and Maimed, by the Help of their Crutches, stepped true to Musick; and those, who were artificially so, laid aside their wooden Proppers, and capered with surprising Activity.
1841 Times 26 Jan. 4/4 How many fragments are still left in contact of that old Ministry, proppers of ‘economy, reform, and peace’.
1936 Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press 20 Apr. 17/2 They were advancing so rapidly that pit-proppers behind them were unable to keep up.
1974 Times 13 Apr. 2/6 Liberals are not the system's proppers and not the system-breakers.
2002 Economist (Nexis) 23 Mar. Propping up such regimes can have the paradoxical result of weakening them... When they collapse, the former propper-up is not usually much loved by the formerly stamped-upon.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1549