Part 3491

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The quantity of fluid which falls in one small spherical mass; a liquid globule; a minim; hence, also, the smallest easily measured portion of a fluid; a small quantity; <as>as, a <ex>drop</ex> of water</as>.</def>

<blockquote>With minute <b>drops</b> from off the eaves. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>As dear to me as are the ruddy <b>drops</b> That visit my sad heart. <i> Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>That <b>drop</b> of peace divine. <i>Keble.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which resembles, or that which hangs like, a liquid drop; as a hanging diamond ornament, an earring, a glass pendant on a chandelier, a sugarplum (sometimes medicated), or a kind of shot or slug.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>Same as <er>Gutta</er>.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>Any small pendent ornament.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Whatever is arranged to drop, hang, or fall from an elevated position; also, a contrivance for lowering something</def>; as: <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A door or platform opening downward; a trap door; that part of the gallows on which a culprit stands when he is to be hanged; hence, the gallows itself</def>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A machine for lowering heavy weights, as packages, coal wagons, etc., to a ship's deck</def>. <sd>(c)</sd> <def>A contrivance for temporarily lowering a gas jet</def>. <sd>(d)</sd> <def>A curtain which drops or falls in front of the stage of a theater, etc.</def> <sd>(e)</sd> <def>A drop press or drop hammer</def>. <sd>(f)</sd> <fld>(Mach.)</fld> <def>The distance of the axis of a shaft below the base of a hanger.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>Any medicine the dose of which is measured by drops; <as>as, lavender <ex>drops</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>The depth of a square sail; -- generally applied to the courses only.</def>

<i>Ham. Nav. Encyc.</i>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>Act of dropping; sudden fall or descent.</def>

<cs><mcol><col>Ague drop</col>, <col>Black drop</col></mcol>. <cd>See under <er>Ague</er>, <er>Black</er>.</cd> -- <col>Drop by drop</col>, <cd>in small successive quantities; in repeated portions. "Made to taste <i>drop by drop<i> more than the bitterness of death." <i>Burke</i>.</cd> -- <col>Drop curtain</col>. <cd>See <er>Drop</er>, <tt>n.</tt>, <p><b>4.</b> <sd>(d)</sd>.</cd> -- <col>Drop forging</col>. <fld>(Mech.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>A forging made in dies by a drop hammer.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <cd>The process of making drop forgings.</cd> -- <col>Drop hammer</col> <fld>(Mech.)</fld>, <cd>a hammer for forging, striking up metal, etc., the weight being raised by a strap or similar device, and then released to drop on the metal resting on an anvil or die.</cd> -- <col>Drop kick</col> <fld>(Football)</fld>, <cd>a kick given to the ball as it rebounds after having been dropped from the hands.</cd> -- <col>Drop lake</col>, <cd>a pigment obtained from Brazil wood. <i>Mollett</i>.</cd> -- <col>Drop letter</col>, <cd>a letter to be delivered from the same office where posted.</cd> -- <col>Drop press</col> <fld>(Mech.)</fld>, <cd>a drop hammer; sometimes, a dead-stroke hammer; -- also called <i>drop<i>.</cd> -- <col>Drop scene</col>, <cd>a drop curtain on which a scene is painted. See <er>Drop</er>, <tt>n.</tt>, 4. <sd>(d)</sd>.</cd> -- <col>Drop seed</col>. <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <cd>See the List under <er>Glass</er>.</cd> -- <col>Drop serene</col>. <fld>(Med.)</fld> <cd>See <er>Amaurosis</er>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Drop</h1> <Xpage=456>

<hw>Drop</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Dropped</er> <tt>(?)</tt> or <er>Dropt</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Dropping</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>droppen</ets>, AS. <ets>dropan</ets>, v. i. See <er>Drop</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To pour or let fall in drops; to pour in small globules; to distill.</def> "The trees <i>drop</i> balsam."

<i>Creech.</i>

<blockquote>The recording angel, as he wrote it down, <b>dropped</b> a tear upon the word and blotted it out forever. <i>Sterne.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To cause to fall in one portion, or by one motion, like a drop; to let fall; <as>as, to <ex>drop</ex> a line in fishing; to <ex>drop</ex> a courtesy.</as></def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To let go; to dismiss; to set aside; to have done with; to discontinue; to forsake; to give up; to omit.</def>

<blockquote>They suddenly <b>drop't</b> the pursuit. <i>S. Sharp.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>That astonishing ease with which fine ladies <b>drop</b> you and pick you up again. <i>Thackeray.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The connection had been <b>dropped</b> many years. <i> Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote><b>Dropping</b> the too rough H in Hell and Heaven. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To bestow or communicate by a suggestion; to let fall in an indirect, cautious, or gentle manner; <as>as, to <ex>drop</ex> hint, a word of counsel, etc.</as></def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To lower, as a curtain, or the muzzle of a gun, etc.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>To send, as a letter; <as>as, please <ex>drop</ex> me a line, a letter, word</as>.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>To give birth to; <as>as, to <ex>drop</ex> a lamb</as>.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>To cover with drops; to variegate; to bedrop.</def>