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prop

/pɹɒp/ noun

In Latin: fulcīmen, pālus, firmāmentum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about prop at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A support placed beneath or against something to keep it from shaking or falling.
  2. Any movable articles or objects used on the set of a play or movie.
    before every scene he ran down his checklist of props
  3. A propeller that rotates to push against air.

verb

  1. Support by placing against something solid or rigid.
    shore and buttress an old building

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)