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top
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Top \Top\, n. [CF. OD. dop, top, OHG., MNG., & dial. G. topf;
perhaps akin to G. topf a pot.]
1. A child's toy, commonly in the form of a conoid or pear,
made to spin on its point, usually by drawing off a string
wound round its surface or stem, the motion being
sometimes continued by means of a whip.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Rope Making) A plug, or conical block of wood, with
longitudital grooves on its surface, in which the strands
of the rope slide in the process of twisting.
[1913 Webster]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Top \Top\, n. [AS. top; akin to OFries. top a tuft, D. top top, OHG. zopf end, tip, tuft of hair, G. zopf tuft of hair, pigtail, top of a tree, Icel. toppr a tuft of hair, crest, top, Dan. top, Sw. topp pinnacle, top; of uncertain origin. Cf. Tuft.] 1. The highest part of anything; the upper end, edge, or extremity; the upper side or surface; summit; apex; vertex; cover; lid; as, the top of a spire; the top of a house; the top of a mountain; the top of the ground. [1913 Webster] The star that bids the shepherd fold, Now the top of heaven doth hold. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. The utmost degree; the acme; the summit. [1913 Webster] The top of my ambition is to contribute to that work. --Pope. [1913 Webster] 3. The highest rank; the most honorable position; the utmost attainable place; as, to be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school. [1913 Webster] And wears upon his baby brow the round And top of sovereignty. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 4. The chief person; the most prominent one. [1913 Webster] Other . . . aspired to be the top of zealots. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 5. The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head. "From top to toe" --Spenser. [1913 Webster] All the stored vengeance of Heaven fall On her ungrateful top ! --Shak. [1913 Webster] 6. The head, or upper part, of a plant. [1913 Webster] The buds . . . are called heads, or tops, as cabbageheads. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster] 7. (Naut.) A platform surrounding the head of the lower mast and projecting on all sudes. It serves to spead the topmast rigging, thus strengheningthe mast, and also furnishes a convenient standing place for the men aloft. --Totten. [1913 Webster] 8. (Wool Manuf.) A bundle or ball of slivers of comkbed wool, from which the noils, or dust, have been taken out. [1913 Webster] 9. Eve; verge; point. [R.] "He was upon the top of his marriage with Magdaleine." --Knolles. [1913 Webster] 10. The part of a cut gem between the girdle, or circumference, and the table, or flat upper surface. --Knight. [1913 Webster] 11. pl. Top-boots. [Slang] --Dickens. [1913 Webster] 12. (Golf) (a) A stroke on the top of the ball. (b) A forward spin given to the ball by hitting it on or near the top. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] Note: Top is often used adjectively or as the first part of compound words, usually self-explaining; as, top stone, or topstone; top-boots, or top boots; top soil, or top-soil. [1913 Webster] Top and but (Shipbuilding), a phrase used to denote a method of working long tapering planks by bringing the but of one plank to the top of the other to make up a constant breadth in two layers. Top minnow (Zool.), a small viviparous fresh-water fish (Gambusia patruelis) abundant in the Southern United States. Also applied to other similar species. From top to toe, from head to foot; altogether. [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Top \Top\, v. t.
1. To cover on the top; to tip; to cap; -- chiefly used in
the past participle.
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Like moving mountains topped with snow. --Waller.
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A mount
Of alabaster, topped with golden spires. --Milton.
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2. To rise above; to excel; to outgo; to surpass.
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Topping all others in boasting. --Shak.
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Edmund the base shall top the legitimate. --Shak.
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3. To rise to the top of; to go over the top of.
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But wind about till thou hast topped the hill.
--Denham.
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4. To take off the or upper part of; to crop.
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Top your rose trees a little with your knife.
--Evelyn.
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5. To perform eminently, or better than before.
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From endeavoring universally to top their parts,
they will go universally beyond them. --Jeffrey.
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6. (Naut.) To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end
becomes higher than the other.
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7. (Dyeing) To cover with another dye; as, to top aniline
black with methyl violet to prevent greening and crocking.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
8. To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade).
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
9. To arrange, as fruit, with the best on top. [Cant]
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
10. To strike the top of, as a wall, with the hind feet, in
jumping, so as to gain new impetus; -- said of a horse.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
11. To improve (domestic animals, esp. sheep) by crossing
certain individuals or breeds with other superior.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
12. (Naut.) To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end
becomes higher than the other.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
13. To cut, break, or otherwise take off the top of (a steel
ingot) to remove unsound metal.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
14. (Golf) To strike (the ball) above the center; also, to
make (as a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
To top off,
(a) to complete by putting on, or finishing, the top or
uppermost part of; as, to top off a stack of hay;
hence, to complete; to finish; to adorn.
(b) to completely fill (an almost full tank) by adding
more of the liquid it already contains.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Top \Top\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Topped; p. pr. & vb. n. Topping.] 1. To rise aloft; to be eminent; to tower; as, lofty ridges and topping mountains. --Derham. [1913 Webster] 2. To predominate; as, topping passions. "Influenced by topping uneasiness." --Locke. [1913 Webster] 3. To excel; to rise above others. [1913 Webster] But write thy, and top. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 4. (Golf) To strike a ball above the center. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 5. (Naut.) To rise at one end, as a yard; -- usually with up. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
