prop

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See also: PROP, Prop., and prop-

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English proppe (“a prop, support, support for a vine or plant”), from Middle Dutch proppe (“support, support for a vine, stopper for a bottle”). Compare Middle Low German proppe (“plug, stopper”), German Pfropfen (“plug”), Danish prop (“plug, stopper”). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Also, is the rugby sense from this etymology, from the other, or from a third?”)

Noun

prop (plural props)

  1. An object placed against or under another, to support it; anything that supports.
    They stuck a block of wood under it as a prop.
  2. (rugby) The player on either side of the hooker in a scrum.
  3. Any of the seashells in the game of props.
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

prop (third-person singular simple present props, present participle propping, simple past and past participle propped)

  1. (transitive, sometimes figurative) To support or shore up something.
    Try using a phone book to prop up the table where the foot is missing.
  2. (intransitive) To play rugby in the prop position.
  3. (transitive, usually with "up" - see prop up) To position the feet of (a person) while sitting, lying down, or reclining so that the knees are elevated at a higher level.
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 2

Clipping of property.

Noun

prop (plural props)

  1. (theater, film) An item placed on a stage or set to create a scene or scenario in which actors perform.
    They used the trophy as a prop in the movie.
  2. An item placed within an advertisement in order to suggest a style of living etc.
    • 2006, Michael Grecco, Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait, Amphoto Books, →ISBN, page 109:
      You can use props in a literal way to enhance the story, such as shooting a woodworker amidst woodworking tools.
Usage notes
  • In stagecraft, usually the term prop is reserved for an object with which an actor or performer interacts, such as a glass, a book, or a weapon. Larger items adding to the scene, such as chairs, are considered part of the set.
  • Props are often non-functional. A prop that is required to function is a "practical" prop, or simply a "practical".
    • When used like an adjective (prop sword, prop gun) the implication is that it is non-functional
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 3

Clipping of propeller.

Noun

prop (plural props)

  1. The propeller of an aircraft or boat.
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

prop (third-person singular simple present props, present participle propping, simple past and past participle propped)

  1. To manually start the engine of a propeller-driven aircraft with no electric starter by pulling vigorously on one of the propeller blades using the hands, so that the propeller can catch ignition.
Derived terms

Etymology 4

Clipping of proposition.

Noun

prop (plural props)

  1. A proposition, especially on an election-day ballot.

Etymology 5

Clipping of propellant.

Noun

prop (plural props)

  1. (astronautics) propellant (“rocket fuel”)
Derived terms

Etymology 6

Noun

prop (plural props)

  1. (gambling, informal) Short for proposition player.

Etymology 7

Clipping of propagation.

Noun

prop (plural props)

  1. (Internet slang) A part of a plant reared for its multiplication.
Related terms

Etymology 8

Clipping of testosterone propionate.

Noun

prop (uncountable)

  1. (bodybuilding slang) Testosterone propionate.
    Synonym: test prop

Etymology 9

Noun

prop (plural props)

  1. (obsolete, slang) A blow; the act of striking someone.
    • 1899, Eden Phillpotts, The Human Boy Again:
      There was some good counter hits, and then Foster received a prop on the nose which drew the claret.
References
  • John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary

Anagrams

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Old Catalan prop, from Latin prope.

Pronunciation

Adverb

prop

  1. (especially after "a") near, nearby
  2. (followed by "de") near to
  3. (followed by "de") about, around, roughly

Derived terms

Further reading

Dutch

Pronunciation

Noun

prop f or m (plural proppen, diminutive propje n)

  1. A swab, plug made of paper, cloth, slime or some other suitable material.
  2. A piece of paper or similar which has been crumpled into a ball-like shape, usually though not necessarily with the intent of throwing it away. → A wad of paper. Usually used in the diminutive form propje. Often the material is assumed to be paper or unimportant, but it can be specified: propje papier (paper), propje plastic (plastic), propje huishoudfolie (household plastic foil), propje aluminiumfolie (aluminium foil), propje keukenpapier (kitchen paper), propje toiletpapier (toilet paper), propje gekleurd papier (coloured paper), propje crêpepapier (crepe paper) and so on.
  3. An embolism. Often used in the diminutive form propje. The substance of the embolism can be indicated: bloedpropje (blood clot), vetpropje (fatty substance), cholesterolpropje (cholesterol). Note however that the last two terms are also used as derogatory words for someone who eats too much, especially fatty food.

Descendants

  • → Indonesian: prop
  • → Papiamentu: pròp

Verb

prop

  1. inflection of proppen:
    1. first-person singular present indicative
    2. imperative

Indonesian

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Dutch prop.

Noun

prop (first-person possessive propku, second-person possessive propmu, third-person possessive propnya)

  1. (colloquial) cork plug.

Etymology 2

From English prop (“property”), or a clipping of properti.

Noun

prop (first-person possessive propku, second-person possessive propmu, third-person possessive propnya)

  1. (art) property, an item placed on a stage or set to create a scene or scenario in which actors perform.

Further reading

Welsh

Etymology

Borrowed from English prop.

Pronunciation

Noun

prop

  1. prop, support
  2. (film, theater) prop
  3. (rugby) prop

Derived terms

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
prop brop mhrop phrop
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

  1. ^ R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “prop”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
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