dollop English · revision 2059

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɒləp/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdɑləp/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from earlier ''dallop'' “a patch, tuft or clump of grass”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) an East Anglian dialect word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) The American Heritage Dictionary and Random House compare Norwegian dialect ''dolp'' “lump”.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In farming, a patch or clump of grass or weeds in a field (1573).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The field sense is obsolete.^(OED 1989) From 1812 ''dollop'' meant a lump or blob,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) or a portion of food served out.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) The verb, to serve out in large lumps, is from 1825.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1573 – a clump of grass or weeds.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1812 – a lump, a portion of food.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1825 – verb, to serve out in large lumps.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A lump or blob of something soft, such as food.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A small amount or splash of a liquid.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+ # A portion served out; a bit.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To serve out or apply in dollops.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}