Etymology: Origin uncertain. The closest semantic parallel is early modern Dutch †proppe vine-prop, support, which is apparently first attested considerably later (1599 in Kiliaan). Kiliaan appears to show the only record for the Dutch word in this sense, and it has been suggested that he may have been familiar with the English word, and on this basis assumed the existence of an analogous sense of the Dutch word (this situation appears to be paralleled with regard to early modern Dutch proppen to prop up, support: see discussion at prop v.¹). Compare Middle Dutch prop (apparently only in plural proppen ) projectile shot from a weapon (early 15th cent.), Dutch prop , (now regional) proppe peg, iron skewer (1573 in Plantin), projectile shot from a weapon (16th cent.), plug, stopper (late 16th cent.), clot (late 17th cent.), cork (19th cent. or earlier), (colloquial) leg (second half of the 18th cent.; now only in idioms such as op de proppen komen to recover (from an illness), to get out of bed), ultimately < the same base as proppen prop v.² Kiliaan appears to regard this as the same word as proppe vine-prop, support, but this is far from certain. (The modern Dutch sense ‘leg’ is apparently a transferred use of the sense ‘peg, iron skewer’). Compare prop n.²There is no etymological connection between the above-mentioned words and German †Pfropf sucker, shoot (Old High German (in late sources) pfropfa ; < pfropfōn to graft (Middle High German pfropfen , German pfropfen ), itself < classical Latin propāgāre propagate v.). With sense 1c(a) compare Dutch prop (colloquial) leg (see above). Irish propa, frapa and Scottish Gaelic prop are < English.

Etymology: Either < Dutch prop, (now regional) proppe plug, stopper, cork, (wooden or iron) peg, iron skewer (see prop n.¹), or < Middle Low German proppe, prop plug, stopper ( < the same base as proppen prop v.²); compare later prop v.²The Middle Low German word was also borrowed into other Germanic languages: compare Swedish propp , Danish prop , and also ( < German regional (Low German) Propp , also Proppen ) German Pfropf , (now usually) Pfropfen (18th cent.)), all in sense ‘plug, bung, stopper, cork’. It is unclear whether earlier prop n.¹ is etymologically related (see discussion at that entry). Perhaps compare also prop n.⁷

Etymology: Shortened < proposition n. (originally as a graphic abbreviation).

Etymology: Origin unknown.

Etymology: Short for proprietor n.

Etymology: Shortened < property n. (see property n. 5); originally only in plural form props.

Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps a specific sense development of either prop n.² or prop n.¹, but in neither case does the semantic development seem very likely. Perhaps independently borrowed < Dutch prop in the senses ‘broach, (iron) skewer’, but, although this sense is recorded in late 16th-cent. dictionaries of Dutch (see discussion at prop n.¹), it appears to be no longer current after the 16th cent. Alternative etymologies (such as a connection with proper adj.) have also been suggested.

Etymology: < prop v.¹ (compare prop v.¹ 4). Compare slightly earlier propping n. 2.

Etymology: Shortened < propeller n.

Etymology: Apparently < prop n.¹ Compare Dutch †proppen to support or keep from falling by or as if by a prop, to sustain (1599 in Kiliaan: see note below). With sense 2a compare slightly earlier propping n. 1a. With sense 3 compare propper n.Kiliaan appears to be the only native Dutch lexicographer to record the word, as distinct from Middle Dutch, Dutch proppen prop v.² It seems likely that he was familiar with the English verb, and assumed that such a sense existed in Dutch as well: see discussion at prop n.¹ Apart from the occurrence in Kiliaan, the Dutch verb is apparently recorded later in Hexham's Dutch–English dictionary (mid 17th cent.) in the sense ‘to prop, stay, or bear up’. In sense 4 probably after prop n.¹ 1c(a); compare later prop n.⁸ With sense 5 compare prop n.¹ 1c(b). German propfen ‘to graft’ is not related: see note at prop n.¹ Swedish proppa to support (a section of the ceiling of a mine) using props (1776) is < English.

Etymology: Apparently either < Middle Low German proppen to cram, stuff, (specifically) to load (guns), or < Dutch proppen to cram, stuff (Middle Dutch proppen ), both of uncertain origin (perhaps imitative, or perhaps alterations of Middle Low German stoppen or Middle Dutch stoppen stop v. Compare earlier prop n.², and the Dutch and Middle Low German nouns cited at prop n.¹ and prop n.²The Middle Low German verb was borrowed into other Germanic languages; compare German (originally and chiefly regional: Low German) proppen, (regional: Central, Southern) pfropfen (16th cent.), Danish proppe, Old Swedish, Swedish proppa, all in same sense.

Etymology: Origin unknown. Perhaps compare earlier probe v. Compare brob v.