~ 1
■ noun
1》 a pole or beam used as a temporary support.
2》 a major source of support or assistance.
3》 (also ~ forward ) Rugby a forward at either end of the front row of a scrum.
4》 chiefly Austral. a sudden stop made by a horse moving at speed.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped )
1》 support with or as with a ~.
↘lean against something else.
2》 ( ~ someone/thing up ) support or assist someone or something that would otherwise fail or decline.
3》 chiefly Austral. (of a horse) come to a dead stop with the forelegs rigid.
Origin
ME: prob. from MDu. ~pe 'support (for vines)'.
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~ 2
■ noun
1》 a portable object used on the set of a play or film.
2》 ( ~s ) [treated as sing. ] informal, dated a ~erty man or mistress.
Origin
C19: abbrev. of ~erty .
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~ 3
■ noun informal an aircraft ~eller.