prop

Pronunciation: /pɹɒp/

The English word “prop” has 18 meanings listed here.

noun

An object placed against or under another, to support it; anything that supports.
The player on either side of the hooker in a scrum.
Any of the seashells in the game of props.
An item placed on a stage or set to create a scene or scenario in which actors perform.
A fake or fabricated version of an object, whether or not it is used for a scene.
An item placed within an advertisement in order to suggest a style of living etc.
The propeller of an aircraft or boat.
A proposition, especially on an election-day ballot.
A part of a plant reared for its multiplication.
Testosterone propionate.
A blow; the act of striking someone.
A scarf pin.

verb

To support or shore up something.
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.
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.

Etymology

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”).

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.