Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to hit, to knock down [prop n.² (3)].

1846		Swell’s Night Guide 51: The nummy pet gammoned scrapping, stalled a prop in the mug, propped in return, and floored Fuzzle, who gammoned a downer [...] and frisked him rumbo.
1853		‘Cuthbert Bede’ Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) I 118: He told Verdant, that his claret had been repeatedly tapped, [...] and his whole person put in chancery, stung, bruised, fibbed, propped, fiddled, slogged, and otherwise ill-treated.
1853		N.Y. Clipper n.p.: Donnelly got away [...] propping his man now and again on the left eye and nose .
1855		(con. 1824) Fights for the Championship 79: He [...] propped him on the proboscis.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 387/1: If we met an ‘old bloke’ (man) we ‘propped him’ (knocked him down), and robbed him.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Apr. 17/4: But he was a bully, and David felt it his duty to give him a lesson. So he propped him, one, two, nose and jaw.
1892		National Observer 27 Feb. 378: Give me a snug little set-to down in Whitechapel: Nobody there can prop you in the eye! [F&H].

2. (Aus./N.Z.) to stop, i.e. to come to a halt.

1890		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer I 12: My word, sir [...] I didn’t think he’d ha’ propped like that.
1900–10		Stephens & O’Brien Materials for a Dict. of Aus. Sl. [unpub. ms.].
1902		Bulletin Reciter 1880–1901 122: If they saddles a big-boned angel—with a turn o’ speed, of course—As can spiel like a four-year brumby, an’ prop like an old camp-horse.
1903		J. Furphy Such is Life 234: He [horse] might prop a little certainly; but it’s only playfulness.
1921		(con. WWI) E. Lynch Somme Mud 34: I decide to walk the length of the trench [...] but halfway along I prop still. [Ibid.] 181: We lie here [...] then move cautiously on. Hiss! And we prop.
1924		G.H. Lawson Dict. of Aus. Words And Terms 🌐 PROP – A horse stopping suddenly.
1959		D. Niland Big Smoke 103: The boy found the aisle on the right, half ran along it and propped like a kangaroo and listened.
1986		R.G. Barrett Real Thing 87: A couple of street cleaners [...] had propped there too.
1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 61: Norton didn’t bother propping outside her door.
2000		R.G. Barrett Leaving Bondi (2013) [ebook] Hey I’ve heard of this joint, thought Les. [...] It’s supposed to be el schmicko. Why don’t I prop here?

3. (Aus.) to arrest.

1901

Sydney Sportsman 3 Apr. 8/6: When the Cops props him strait away / Into the Central drear, / Where he got fined a 40 bob, / Or 4 weeks for to clear.

4. (Aus./N.Z.) to stop, i.e. remain, thus fig. to stand one’s ground.

1965		(con. WWII) E. Lambert Long White Night 65: ‘I think I’ll prop here,’ mused Clancy.
1967		‘Whisper All Aussie Dict.’ in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxviii 10/2: prop: To stay.
1974		J. McNeill How Does Your Garden Grow 84: ‘Mick: Parole bloke there, is he? [...] I’ll prop them’.
1983		R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 10: Nah, she’s apples china, I’d rather prop on me Pat Malone. I’m only in for a quick gargle.

5. to die.

1974

P. Adam-Smith Barcoo Salute 62: ‘Used to be as good as the next man until old Dolly propped.’ Two years ago, old Dolly, a bay mare had been galloping when she hit a stump. [...] ‘Killed poor Dolly outright.’.

6. (N.Z. prison) to hold a (sit-down) strike or similar protest; also as n.

1978		G. Newbold ‘Social Organization of Prisons’ in dissertation U. Auckland 341: 1978 NEWBOLD:‘Well that's it’ remarked one of the pacifists, ‘We're going to prop’.
1982		G. Newbold Big Huey 89: Because we were late starting practice we all decided to prop for ten minutes extra at the end of lunchtime. [Ibid.] 252: Prop (v) Sit-down strike.
1985		N.Z. Times 12 May 5: After Alofoe’s suicide, A Block inmates began ‘a prop’. One man started a hunger strike and others planned to join him [...] The original unpublished plan involved a mass ‘prop’ by all Paremoremo inmates [DNZE].
2001		D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 146/1: prop v. 1 to strike, by either peaceful or violent means 2 to stick together in support of one another, to back one another up against an opposing presence or ideology.