drop English · revision 3230

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=gem-pro *drupô}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /drɒp/, US /drɑːp/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is [[inh|enm|drope]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[inh|ang|dropa|t=a small spherical mass of liquid]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*drupô|alt=*drupon]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source also of Old Saxon dropo, Old Norse dropi, Dutch drop and German Tropfen.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The verb is Old English dropian, from the same source.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) They belong to a family of Germanic verbs that includes Old English drēopan “to drip”, German triefen, and English [[drip]] and [[droop]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(COED 2004) from [[ine-pro|*dhreu-]].^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart connects them with Gothic driusan “to fall” and with [[dreary]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Old English dropa is found about 725, in a translation of the Book of Daniel,^(Barnhart 1988) and the verb dropian about 1000.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English drope was also a disease marked by spots, about 1150.^(Barnhart 1988) “The smallest quantity of anything” is from about 1200.^(Etymonline) A solid object falling vertically, of the verb, is from the late 14th century (1377),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “to let fall” from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) ''A drop in the bucket'' is from the late 14th century, from Isaiah 40:15.^(Etymonline) ''Drop in'', “to visit casually”, is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) and ''drop someone a line'' from 1769, from dropping a letter in a letter box.^(Etymonline) An act of dropping is from the 1630s, and a fall in prices or temperature from the mid-19th century.^(Etymonline) A hard sweet, from its shape, is from 1723.^(Etymonline) The theatre's drop curtain, lowered between scenes, is by 1779.^(Etymonline) ''At the drop of a hat'' is from 1854,^(Etymonline) and ''to get the drop on'' is Old West gunslinger slang, 1869.^(Etymonline) A place where things are left secretly to be collected is from 1931.^(Etymonline) ''Drop dead!'' is from 1934, and the adjective ''drop-dead'', “stunning”, by 1970.^(Etymonline) Since the 1920s people have dropped bricks, and since the 1940s clangers.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English dropa.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1000 – verb, to fall in drops.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – the smallest quantity.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – to let fall.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – ''a drop in the bucket''.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – ''drop in''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1723 – a hard sweet.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1769 – ''drop someone a line''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1854 – ''at the drop of a hat''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1934 – ''drop dead!''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small round mass of liquid.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A very small amount: ''not a drop of sympathy''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(plural)'' Liquid [[medicine]] given in drops.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A decrease: ''a drop in prices''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A steep descent, or the distance of a fall.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A small round [[sweet]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A place where things are left secretly to be collected.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fall or let fall.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To fall in drops.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To become lower or less.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To let someone out of a vehicle: ''drop me at the station''.^(AHD)

+ # To give up or abandon: ''drop the subject''.^(AHD)

+ # To leave out; to [[omit]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[droppable]]

+ * [[droplike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[drip]]

+ * [[droop]]

+ * [[dreary]]

+ * [[droplet]]

+ * [[dropper]]

+ * [[dropout]]

+ * [[raindrop]]

+ * [[teardrop]]

+ * [[dewdrop]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}