ˈdräpə(r) noun
( -s )
1. : one that drops: as
a. : a fly attached in fishing to a leader above the tail fly usually by means of a snell
b.
(1) : one that sows after a dibbler
(2) : an attachment to a reaping machine for dropping the grain in gavels on the ground ; also : a machine having such an attachment
c. : a dog (as a cross between a setter and a pointer) that drops at sight of game
d. : one that regulates the dropping of articles into receptacles in the process of manufacture
e. : a heavy vertical wire on the horizontal wires of a fence to maintain the vertical spacing
2. : a branch vein in a mine which drops off from or leaves the main lode on the footwall side
3. : a vegetative shoot that grows downward and develops a new bulb at its apex in certain bulbous plants (as the tulip)
4.
a. : a short glass tube with one end constricted and the other fitted with a small rubber bulb used to measure liquids by drops — called also eyedropper, medicine dropper
b. : a similar tube having the external diameter of the outlet three millimeters and adjustable to deliver at 15° C 20 drops of distilled water weighing one gram — called also normal dropper, standard dropper
5. : a mechanical attachment on a loom or warper for stopping the machine when a warp yarn breaks — called also drop wire
6. : a worker who runs cars down the inclined haulageways of a mine by riding or pushing or lowering by cable — called also car dropper, load dropper
7. Africa : a fence post