Drop n. 1.The quantity of fluid which falls in one small spherical mass; a liquid globule; a minim; hence, also, the smallest easily measured portion of a fluid; a small quantity; as, a drop of water. "With minute drops from off the eaves." "As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart." "That drop of peace divine."
2.That which resembles, or that which hangs like, a liquid drop; as a hanging diamond ornament, an earring, a glass pendant on a chandelier, a sugarplum (sometimes medicated), or a kind of shot or slug.
3.(Arch.) (b)Any small pendent ornament.
4.Whatever is arranged to drop, hang, or fall from an elevated position; also, a contrivance for lowering something; as: (a)A door or platform opening downward; a trap door; that part of the gallows on which a culprit stands when he is to be hanged; hence, the gallows itself.
(b)A machine for lowering heavy weights, as packages, coal wagons, etc., to a ship's deck.
(c)A contrivance for temporarily lowering a gas jet.
(d)A curtain which drops or falls in front of the stage of a theater, etc.
(e)A drop press or drop hammer.
(f)(Mach.) The distance of the axis of a shaft below the base of a hanger.
5.pl. Any medicine the dose of which is measured by drops; as, lavender drops.
6.(Naut.) The depth of a square sail; generally applied to the courses only.
7.Act of dropping; sudden fall or descent.
Ague drop, Black drop. See under Ague, Black. Drop by drop, in small successive quantities; in repeated portions. "Made to taste drop by drop more than the bitterness of death."
Drop curtain. See Drop, n., 4. (d). Drop forging. (Mech.) (a)A forging made in dies by a drop hammer.
(b)The process of making drop forgings.
Drop hammer (Mech.), a hammer for forging, striking up metal, etc., the weight being raised by a strap or similar device, and then released to drop on the metal resting on an anvil or die.
Drop kick (Football), a kick given to the ball as it rebounds after having been dropped from the hands.
Drop lake, a pigment obtained from Brazil wood.
Drop letter, a letter to be delivered from the same office where posted.
Drop press (Mech.), a drop hammer; sometimes, a dead-stroke hammer; also called drop.
Drop scene, a drop curtain on which a scene is painted. See Drop, n., 4. (d). Drop seed. (Bot.) See the List under Glass. Drop serene. (Med.) See Amaurosis. 
