prop

Meaning

Noun

1. An object placed against or under another, to support it; anything that supports.
2. The player on either side of the hooker in a scrum.
3. Any of the seashells in the game of props.

Verb

1. (figuratively, sometimes, transitive) To support or shore up something.
2. (intransitive) To play rugby in the prop position.
3. (transitive, usually) To position the feet of (a person) while sitting, lying down, or reclining so that the knees are elevated at a higher level.
4. (Australia, New-Zealand, intransitive) 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.
5. (UK, obsolete, slang, transitive) To knock (a person) down.

Verb

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.

Synonyms

support

stay

brace

strut

prop up

pillar

rest

uphold

buttress

hold up

post

sustain

lean

propeller

shore

stanchion

back

🔙

airscrew

abutment

backing

pedestal

underpin

bolster

second

2nd

reinforce

easel

crutch

🩼

bearing

property

espouse

mainstay

stake

carry

base

bracket

bar

aid

footing

boost

shore up

pole

assistance

pier

assist

mast

countenance

standard

leg

🦵

bearer

level

Translations

appui

Stütze

soutenir

puntello

soutien

support

stut

steunen

sostegno

apoyar

appuyer

steun

accessoire

stützen

schragen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɹɒp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: proppe

Cognate with Middle Dutch: proppe

Cognate with Middle Low German: proppe

Cognate with German: Pfropfen

Cognate with Danish: prop

In summary

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”).