prop n.1
1. a proprietor.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | London-Bawd (1705) 11: I am the Prop of the House. If I didn’t introduce Gentlemen into your Company, I wonder what you’d do. | |
| Willy Wood & Greedy Grizzle 3: Perhaps in search of fair renown, / Or thought the profits of a shop / For wane of life might ear a prop. | |
| Music Hall & Theatre Rev. 25 Oct. 11/2: Messrs Fred Reeves and Hal Verdo, the ‘props’ who provide over the destinies of this charming retreat. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | Philosophy of Johnny the Gent 31: ‘Every booze joint prop. in town was givin’ ’em away’. | |
| Modern Hobo 73: The ‘Prop.’ served that dish. | |
| Man’s Grim Justice 140: The ‘prop’ got curious about my business. | |
| ‘Observation Post’ in N.Y. Age 25 Oct. 9/6: [A] certain beautician changed eating places because she couldn’t face the prop. [i.e. of a restaurant] after trying to ensnare her husband. | |
| Tough Guy [ebook] A shot of bootleg whiskey fetched as high as a buck, and even at two bits the speakeasy prop wasn’t losing. |
2. property.
| Sporting Times 7 Apr. 1/2: Ev’rybody knows that she’s the boss’s private prop. | |
| Hooky Gear 26: I can sense wha theys doin which is eyein up all my prop. |
3. a propellor.
| Flight 10 Jan. 43/2: Vedrines seems to have made up his mind to be the champion ‘stunt’ flyer of the age [...] He made a fine glide from 650ft., making a perfect landing with the ‘prop’ stationary . | |
 | African Queen 139: Must ’a’ just ’it a rock with the tip of the prop. | |
| 21 Feb. in A Flying Tiger’s Diary (1984) 105: I may have nipped a tree with my prop. | |
| Brave Cowboy (1958) 186: Can’t land here, there’s no room for the prop. | |
| Iron Orchard (1967) 379: How about selling you a jet? Man, you’re moving too slow in those old prop jobs. | |
| (con. 1916) Tin Lizzie Troop (1978) 169: This dry atmosphere played hob with wooden props. | |
| Silver Wings (1985) 141: They were blasted by the prop-wash, dust swirling around them. | |
| (con. 1964–8) Cold Six Thousand 115: The sky was black. The air was wet. Ice hit the props. |
4. (US Und.) as abbr. SE proposition/proposal.
(a) a suggestion, made by the police, that one turns informer in return for a lighter sentence or reduction in charges; thus shoot someone a prop v., to make such a suggestion.
| ‘Mexicana Rose’ in et al. Life (1976) 40: Here you shoot me a prop like I was a witch! | |
| Scene (1996) 19: She wasn’t doing anything, only selling drugs, just like Rudy Black or Ace [...] Why couldn’t Davis have set one of them up for a prop. | |
| ‘Sl. of Watts’ in Current Sl. III:2 38: Prop, n. A proposition to a policeman that one will act as an informant on the condition that one is released from jail. Also, a proposition from a policeman, district attorney, or judge promising reduction in return for information. | |
| Ripping and Running 162: Prop – Fabricated story. |
(b) a suggestion, a plan.
| Syndicate (1998) 98: When he came to us with the prop, he knew just how we’d react. |
(c) a sexual proposition.
| in Sweet Daddy 28: Just got a prop. Propositioned. Guy [...] says a blow job with ten bucks to him. |
In phrases
(US teen) to do someone a favour.
| Clueless [film script] He’s doing her a prop so she won’t feel left out. |