top-offn.
/ˈtɒpɒf/, U.S. /ˈtɑpˌɔf/, /ˈtɑpˌɑf/, Australian English /ˈtɔpɔf/ Australian slang.
An informer. Also top-off merchant (merchant adj. 1).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > informing on or against > [noun] > informer
wrayerc1000
wrobberc1300
discoverera1400
denunciator1474
informer1503
denouncer1533
detector1541
delatora1572
sycophant1579
inquisitor1580
scout1585
finger man1596
emphanista1631
quadruplator1632
informant1645
eastee-man1681
whiddler1699
runner1724
stag1725
snitch1785
qui tam1788
squeak1795
split1819
clype1825
telegraph1825
snitcher1827
Jack Nasty1837
pigeon1847
booker1863
squealer1865
pig1874
rounder1884
sneak1886
mouse1890
finger1899
fizgig1902
screamer1902
squeaker1903
canary1912
shopper1924
narker1932
snurge1933
cheese eater1935
singer1935
tip-off1941
top-off1941
tout1959
rat fink1961
whistle-blower1970
1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 77 Top-off, a police informer.
1945 L. Glassop We were Rats 133 He pooled me with the Q.M. Just a top-off merchant, that's all he is.
1966 B. Collins Copper Crucible 14 About four o'clock in the morning some top-off rings the cops.
1973 Sunday Mail (Brisbane) 4 Mar. 4/2 He believed him to be a prison ‘top-off’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
top-offn.1adj.
/ˈtɒpɒf/, U.S. /ˈtɑpˌɔf/, /ˈtɑpˌɑf/ A. n.1
An additional or supplementary element; (now typically) one used to increase an amount of something to the level that is required or desired; a top-up.
ΚΠ
1860 W. D. O'Connor Harrington x. 182 Briled steak, potatoes, spinach, with a top off of bread puddin' and coffee.
1906 Washington Post 14 Jan. (Mag.) 2/1 Nowadays, a big dinner practically begins with champagne and finishes with it, with a little brandy as a top-off.
1988 AutoWeek (Nexis) 27 June 58 To pit for a top-off of gas just before a restart with 40 laps remaining.
2021 @WestieBiscuit 6 July in twitter.com (accessed 24 Feb. 2022) Could use a top-off on that Yummy margarita.
B. adj.
Designating cargo or passengers added to the load of an aircraft, ship, etc., that would not otherwise be full.Often in situations where passengers are added to a craft intended to carry cargo, or vice versa.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > transportation by water > [adjective] > that forms a cargo
fraughtinga1616
top-off1961
1952 Hilo (Hawaii) Tribune-Herald 22 Oct. 1/3 No room could be found on overseas carriers for air freight, a top-off cargo, and after days of delay shippers were forced to airmail cargo.
1961 Flight 130 864/2 Seaboard World Airlines is continuing to press hard its proposal to carry ‘top-off’ passengers on its..cargo flights across the Atlantic.
1974 Draft Environmental Impact Statement Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (U.S. Dept. Transportation) 20 65 percent of present tonnages are handled as top-off cargo consigned to passenger flights.
2006 Canad. Sailings (Nexis) 16 Jan. The vessel sailed to Baie-Comeau for top-off cargo before proceeding to Italy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2022).
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n.1941
n.1adj.1860