PROP

n. & v. --n. 1 a rigid support, esp. one not an integral part of the thing supported. 2 a person who supplies support, assistance, comfort, etc. 3 Rugby Football a forward at either end of the front row of a scrum. 4 esp. Austral. a horse's action of propping. --v. (propped, propping) 1 tr. (often foll. by against, up, etc.) support with or as if with a prop (propped him against the wall; propped it up with a brick). 2 intr. esp. Austral. (of a horse etc.) come to a dead stop with the forelegs rigid. [ME prob. f. MDu. proppe: cf. MLG, MDu. proppen (v.)]