prop
An object placed against or under another, to support it; anything that supports.
Noun
- An object placed against or under another, to support it; anything that supports.
- They stuck a block of wood under it as a prop.
- The player on either side of the hooker in a scrum.
- Any of the seashells in the game of props.
Origin
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”).
Forms
Derived
acrow prop book prop clothes-prop clothes prop clothesprop pit prop prop bet prop blast prop-jet propleg propless prop shaft propstick prop vowel prop wash shot prop
Noun broadcasting, entertainment
- 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.
- An item placed within an advertisement in order to suggest a style of living etc.
- You can use props in a literal way to enhance the story, such as shooting a woodworker amidst woodworking tools. - 2006, Michael Grecco, Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait, Amphoto Books, →ISBN, page 109:
Origin
Clipping of property.
Forms
Derived
prop comedian prop comedy prop comic prop gun propless propmaker propmaster prop master proppy prop sword theatrical prop
Noun obsolete, slang
- A blow; the act of striking someone.
- There was some good counter hits, and then Foster received a prop on the nose which drew the claret. - 1899, Eden Phillpotts, The Human Boy Again:
- A scarf pin.
Forms
Noun Entry 4
- The propeller of an aircraft or boat.
Origin
Clipping of propeller.
Forms
Derived
propfan propjet propless proprotor propshaft propwash turboprop
Noun government, politics
- A proposition, especially on an election-day ballot.
- John Aubrey Douglass, a senior research fellow at the Center for Studies in Higher Education at Berkeley, said that while he was not an insider on admissions practices, “my sense is that admissions is highly regulated...
- “Watch how totally dishonest the California Prop vote is!” Trump fumed on Truth Social over the weekend. - 2025 October 27, Russell Berman, quoting Donald Trump, “‘California Is Allowed to Hit Back’”, in The Atlantic,...
Origin
Clipping of proposition.
Forms
Derived
Noun aerospace, astronautics
- Clipping of propellant (“rocket fuel”).
Forms
Derived
Noun gambling, games
- Clipping of proposition player.
Forms
Noun Internet
- A part of a plant reared for its multiplication.
Origin
Clipping of propagation.
Forms
Related
Noun bodybuilding, hobbies
- Testosterone propionate.
Synonyms: test prop
Origin
Clipping of testosterone propionate.
Verb figuratively, sometimes
- To support or shore up something.
- Try using a phone book to prop up the table where the foot is missing.
- To play rugby in the prop position.
- To position the feet of (a person) while sitting, lying down, or reclining so that the knees are elevated at a higher level.
- To stop suddenly or unexpectedly; derived from the situation where a horse might suddenly halt of its own accord, digging its front hooves into the ground to brace itself from forward movement, potentially unseating its rider.
- To knock (a person) down.
- We used to go out into the roads (highway robbery) between races, and if we met an ‘old bloke’ (man) we ‘propped him’ (knocked him down), and robbed him. - 1851, Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor,...
Forms
Derived
prop forward proppage proppantr propper proppy prop up the bar subprop underprop unprop upprop
Verb Entry 11
- 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.