Top sb.1. World English Historical Dictionary

Top sb.1. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1916, rev. 2022. Top sb.1 Forms: 1 top, 3–6, (?) 7 toppe, pl. toppes, 4–6 tope, 4–7 topp, 6– Sc. and north. tap, 3– top. [OE. top (topp-), Com. WGer. and Norse; = OFris. topp (WFris. top, NFris. top, tup), OLG. *topp (MDu., Du. top(p), MLG., LG. top), OHG. (MHG., Ger.) zopf top, summit, a crest or tuft of hair; ON. toppr top, tuft, Sw. topp top, pinnacle, Da. top top, point, MDa. also tuft of feathers, plume, mod.Norw. also tupp:—OTeut. *tuppoz; not known in Gothic. Outside Teutonic known only in Romanic derivatives: cf. TOUPET.]

1   I.  A tuft, crest, or bush of hair, etc.

2   1.  The hair on the summit or crown of the head; the hair of the head. Obs. exc. Sc.

3   Foreward top = FORETOP. To take († hent, † nim) by the top, to seize by the hair, lay hold of violently (also fig.).

4 c. 1205.  Lay., 684. Bi þone toppe [c. 1275 bi þe coppe] he hine nome Al swa he hine walde of-slean.

5 1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5619. He … hente þis lof bi þe top, & fram þe bord him drou.

6 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 590. His tope [v.rr. top, toppe] was doked lyk a preest biforn. Ibid. (c. 1386), Reeve’s Prol., 15. This white tope writeth myne olde yeris.

7 c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 496/2. Top, or fortop (K., P. top of the hed), aqualium.

8 1535.  Coverdale, Bel & Dr., 36. Then the angel … toke him by the toppe, and bare him by the hayre of the heade.

9 1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 39. Let’s take the instant by the forward top: For we are old.

10 a. 1643.  Cartwright, Ordinary, II. ii. This white top writeth my much years.

11 1884.  D. Grant, Lays & Leg. North, 21.        Till Eppie got him by the tap   An’ pu’t him up the stair. Quo’ Davit then, ‘I ’m wauken’t, wife,   Lat go my puckle hair!’

12   b.  The crest or ‘topping’ of a bird; the forelock of a horse, etc. Now Sc. and north. dial.

13 a. 1225.  St. Marher., 12. And toc him [the dragon] bi þe ateliche top.

14 13[?].  K. Alis., 5186 (Bodl. MS.). Ypotame a wonder beest…; Toppe, & rugge, & croupe, & cors, Is semblabel to an hors.

15 c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 837. The Golk … Tit the Tuchet be the tope, ourtirvit his hed.

16 1578.  in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1903), 296. vid for iii hearons toppes which were burnte with Torches.

17 1585.  Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 43. Euen so, had Nature,… Giuen her [the phœnix] ane tap, for to augment her grace.

18 1650.  Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 353. We deck ourselves with birds feathers, the tops of herons.

19 1756.  Mrs. Calderwood, Jrnl., iii. (1884), 66. The horses have … a large top betwixt their ears.

20 1808–25.  Jamieson, Tap … 3. The tuft on the head of some fowls. Hence the phrase, tappit hen.

21   2.  A tuft or handful of hair, wool, fiber, etc.; esp. the portion of flax or tow put on the distaff (in full, top of flax, lint († line), tow). Also fig. Now only Sc. and north. dial. [Cf. med.L. toppus lini (top of flax).]

22   To tak one’s tap in one’s lap: see quot. 1825.

23   [But some refer this sense to TOP sb.2, as having reference to the shape; cf. quot. 1891 in 34.]

24 a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 428. Ne rouhte þe þeyh flockes were Imeynd bi toppes & bi here.

25 c. 1325.  Gloss. W. de Bibbesw., in Wright, Voc., 144. E serencez du lyn le toup [gloss] hekele, a top of flax.

26 14[?].  Nom., in Wr.-Wülcker, 696/3. Hoc lapsum, a top of lin.

27 1558.  in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 25. Into vi nighte cappes & toppes of turkes headdes peces.

28 1681.  Colvil, Whigs Supplic., 258. A Top of Lint for his Panash.

29 1794.  Burns, Weary Pund o’ Tow, iv. Gae spin your tap o’ tow!

30 1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxvii[i]. ‘And does your honour think,’ said Jeanie, ‘that will do as weel as if I were to take my tap in my lap, and slip my ways hame again?’

31 1825.  Jamieson, s.v. Tap, To tak one’s tap in one’s lap, and set aff, to turse up one’s baggage, and be gone … from the practice of women accustomed to spin from a rock, who often carried their work with them to the house of some neighbour.

32 1894.  Northumbld. Gloss., Top, in spinning, the quantity of flax put on the ‘rock’ at a time.

33   b.  spec. A bundle of combed wool prepared for spinning. Chiefly pl. (also collect. sing.).

34 1637.  Bury Wills (Camden), 169. I owe John Brightall for combeing of ten skore poundes and ten of tops.

35 1759.  Overseers’ Acc., Holy Cross, Canterb. To 1 Top of wool for worsted deliver’d to Mrs. Hawley … 0. 2. 0.

36 1844.  G. Dodd, Textile Manuf., iv. 129. The wool generally comes to the factories in narrow bundles or ‘tops,’ about eighteen inches long, and weighing about a pound and a half or two pounds each.

37 1882.  Worc. Exhib. Catal., III. 31. Combing process, separating long wool from short, the long wool being then called combed tops.

38 1888.  Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Top, a bundle of combed wool as made up by the comber for spinning, usually weighing about 28lbs. … At present the word is applied to the bundles of combed wool from the machine—hand combing having been quite superseded.

39   II.  The highest or uppermost part.

40   3.  The highest point or part of anything; perh. originally a pointed or peaked summit, an apex or peak; but now applied to the uppermost part, whatever its nature or shape; the highest place or limit of something.

41   To swim at the top (fig.), to maintain a high social position.

42 c. 1000.  Ælfric’s Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 143/26. Apex, summitas galcæ, helmes top.

43 c. 1205.  Lay., 1339. He hihte hondlien kablen Teon seiles to toppa [c. 1275 toppe].

44 a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1422. Vp to þe toppe from þe more.

45 c. 1275.  Lay., 1781. In þan grunde of þe tur mihte sitte Sixti hundred cnihtes And þe toppe [c. 1205 þa turres cop] mihte wreie On cniht mid his cope.

46 13[?].  K. Alis., 1417 (Bodl. MS.). Hii drawen sayl to top of mast.

47 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 2110. Þan vp he clame to a cliffe … Þare fand he tildid on þe top & tild vp a cite.

48 1459.  Paston Lett., I. 488. Pottis of sylver,… enamelyd on the toppys withe hys armys.

49 1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 54 b. Reaching from Thuringe … vnto the toppe of the Alpes.

50 c. 1630.  Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 215 (1810), 223. Trees … no taller than a man may touch to top with his hand.

51 1686.  trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 74. The Door is made … with an opening at the Top.

52 1691.  Hartcliffe, Virtues, 229. This Sentence should be writ on our Houses Tops.

53 1781.  Cowper, Truth, 549. From Sinai’s top Jehovah gave the law.

54 1825.  Scott, Talism., i. The flat top of his cumbrous cylindrical helmet was unadorned with any crest.

55 1873.  J. Richards, Wood-working Factories, 116. Everything about the top of a bench must be strong and simple.

56   b.  That part of anything portable which, when it is in use, occupies the highest place; e.g., the top of a page, map, etc.

57 1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. ii. 107. They vse to writ it on the top of Letters.

58 1681.  S. Fell, in Jrnl. Friends’ Hist. Soc., July (1912), 136. You may see at the Topp of every leafe, which Meetings testimonies followes.

59 1817.  Parl. Deb., 430. Lord Cochrane … knew persons in office had frequently procured signatures to petitions without a top.

60 1859.  Lang, Wand. India, 388. ‘Order a fresh bottle of our wine for him, Blade,’ said the Colonel, ‘and let him taste the top of it.’

61   c.  The higher end of anything on a slope; † the head or source of a river (obs.), the head of a lake (arch.), of a street, etc.; also that end of anything that is conventionally considered the higher, as of a room or dining-table; the end of a billiard-table opposite the baulk.

62 1624.  Capt. Smith, Virginia, II. 23. The third navigable river is called Toppahanock…. At the top of it inhabit the people called Mannahoacks amongst the mountaines.

63 1782.  Mrs. Cowley, Which is the Man, V. ii. Coming down from the Top [of the room], addressing the Company.

64 1811.  T. Wilson, Country Dancing (ed. 2), 129. The top of the Dance or Set … is known thus:—the Ladies will always have the top of the Set on their right hands, and the Gentlemen on their left.

65 1849.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett. (1883), II. 41. In the omnibus to the top of Sloane Street.

66 1906.  Alice Werner, Natives Brit. Cent. Africa, xii. 282. They … went on to the north, and round the top of the lake.

67   4.  The uppermost division of the body; the head; esp. the crown of the head. Chiefly, now only, in alliterative expressions: see 24, 25.

68 a. 1225.  Juliana, 59. Ouer al & from þe top to þe tan.

69 1303, c. 1330.  [see 24, 24 d].

70 13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., C. 229. Tyd by top & bi to, þay token hym synne.

71 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 752*. And toton owt of hys top als tyndis of hornes.

72 a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), II. 176. Thou take hym by þe toppe and I by þe tayle.

73 a. 1500[?].  Debate Carpenters Tools, 188, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 86. Methinke gode ale is in ȝour tope.

74 1611.  Shaks., Cymb., IV. ii. 354. Soft hoa, what truncke is heere? Without his top?

75 1821.  Scott, Kenilw., ix. The pains I have bestowed on the top and bottom of … Dickie, whom I have painfully made to travel through the accidence.

76   b.  The uppermost branch of a deer’s horn: esp. in phr. on (upon) top.

77 1486.  Bk. St. Albans, e j b. When he hath Awntelere with owt any lett Ryall and Surriall also there Isett, And that in the toppe so.

78 1801.  in C. P. Collyns, Notes Chase Wild Red Deer (1862), App. 211. The remaining horn had three on top with all his rights.

79 1885.  Wellington (Som.) Weekly News, 19 Aug. A large, heavy deer, with two upon top on each side.

80   5.  Usually pl. The part of a plant growing above ground as distinct from the root; esp. of a vegetable grown for the ‘root,’ as turnip-tops. Also the tender tips of branches or shoots.

81 [1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 22. Pieres … bad me toten on þe tree on toppe and on rote.]

82 1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 28. Thanne he taketh the barley or otes by the toppes.

83 1552.  Huloet, Toppe of an herbe, capillamentum.

84 1639.  O. Wood, Alph. Bk. Secrets, 10. Then take the young tops of Rosemary, Marigolds [etc.].

85 1725.  Watts, Logic, I. vi. § 3. If the buds are made our food, they are called heads, or tops.

86 1766.  Complete Farmer, s.v. Radish, 6 I 1/1. They will run up in tops, and not increase in their roots.

87 1844.  H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, II. 5. Tops of turnips make good feeding at the beginning of the season.

88 18[?].  U. S. Dispensatory (ed. 14), 827 (Cent. Dict.). The fruits and tops of juniper are the only officinal parts.

89   6.  pl. (also collect. sing.). The smaller branches and twigs of trees as distinct from the timber.

90   Often with lop, as top(s and lop(s, lop(s and top(s, lop(s, top(s, and bark (or crop(s).

91 1485–6.  Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 98. Rec. xvjs. pro corticibus et Toppys in silva de Rylley.

92 1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 154. If thou haue any woode to selle … sell the toppes as they lye.

93 1669, etc.  [see LOP sb.2 1].

94 1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, s.v. Lop, In a sale of standing timber trees they are advertised with their ‘lop, top, and bark.’

95   7.  The extremity of a growing part (which is often the highest and usually the most slender point); hence the narrower end (of anything tapering), the point, tip. Top and butt (Shipbuilding), a method of working long tapering planks together in pairs with the top of one to the butt of another, so as to maintain a constant width.

96 1538.  Elyot, Sagitta, an arow, also the top of a twygge or rodde.

97 1573–80.  Baret, Alv., T 290. The sharpnesse of the top, or tippe of the nose…. The tops, or tips of the fingers.

98 1754.  Shebbeare, Matrimony (1766), I. 76. My Lord stept off lightly, on the Tops of his Toes.

99 1815.  Burney, Falconer’s Dict. Marine, Top and Butt, in ship-building, a general method of working the English plank (except in the topside) to make good work and conversion, which is done by disposing of the top-end of every plank, within six feet of the butt-end of the plank above or below it.

100 1866.  Chambers’ Encycl., VIII. 684/2. Top-and-butt.

101   8.  In various applications. a. In Gem-cutting: see quot. b. The inside of a roof; a ceiling; spec. the roof of a coal-mine or tunnel. c. Tops and bottoms: the flattish halves of small rolls sliced lengthways, and browned in the oven; rusks. d. See quot. 1905, and cf. BOTTOM sb. 8 a. e. Mining. See quot.

102   a.  1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., Top, that portion of a cut gem which is between the girdle, or extreme margin, and the table or flat face.

103   b.  1706.  Swift, Baucis & Philemon, 58. The kettle to the top was hoist, And there stood fasten’d to a joist.

104 1830.  T. Wilson, Pitman’s Pay (1843), 13. For if maw ‘top’ comes badly down.

105 1844.  F. W. Simms, Pract. Tunnelling, ix. 83. This stage of progress, which is technically called ‘getting in the top’ [of a tunnel].

106 1889.  N. W. Linc. Gloss., Top, the ceiling, as ‘th’ room top,’ ‘th’ kitchen top.’

107 1894.  Northumbld. Gloss., Top, in mining, the portion of coal that has been kirved and nicked, and is ready to be blasted or wedged down.

108   c.  1765.  Univ. Mag., XXXVII. 371/2. The biskets called tops and bottoms, or rusks.

109 1866.  Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 55. Some nice tops-and-bottoms for its supper.

110   d.  1905.  Daily Chron., 17 July, 4/7. The labourers who board the steamers inquire anxiously for ‘tops and bottoms’—that is, everything that has been left undrunk in the passengers glasses.

111   e.  1894.  Northumbld. Gloss., Top, the blue flame above a candle or lamp…, whose appearance indicates the presence of fire-damp in the mine.

112   III.  A piece or part placed upon or fitted to anything, and forming its upper part or covering.

113   9.  A platform near the head of each of the lower masts of a ship. In early fighting ships, a platform at the head of the mast, fenced with a rail (cf. top-armor, 33), stored with missiles and occupied by archers, etc., called more fully TOP-CASTLE; later, a similar platform on which musketeers or riflemen were stationed (cf. TOPMAN1 3); in a modern warship, an armored platform on a short mast, for machine-guns, signalling, etc.; more fully fighting-top, military top. In a sailing ship, a framework and platform serving to extend the rigging of the topmast, and for convenience in making sail.

114 c. 1420.  ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 342. A shyp with a toppe & seyle was hys crest.

115 a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, cvii. 360. He caused one of the maryners to mounte vp into the toppe to se yf he myght se any lond.

116 1561.  Eden, Arte Navig., I. vii. 9. If you stande in the toppe of the shyppe.

117 1697.  Dampier, Voy. round World (1699), 208. We saw the light in the Admirals top, which continued about half an hour.

118 1764.  Veitch, in Phil. Trans., LIV. 291. The top, or round scaffolding on the mast … in this ship it was 18 feet broad.

119 1859.  All Year Round, No. 17. 399. We literally raced for the lubber’s hole, through which we crept, and then stood in the top to survey the scene.

120 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Half-top, the mode of making ships’ tops in two pieces, which are afterwards secured as a whole by what are termed sleepers.

121   b.  Naut. Short for topsail: see quots.

122   † To pull or take down, bow, or vail one’s top, to lower one’s topsail in token of submission or respect; said of a ship, hence fig. of a person. Obs.

123 1513–42.  Hist. Sir W. Wallace, x. (1881), 54. All the shipis … pulling down ther topis, did obeysance vnto the read Lyon.

124 a. 1600.  Hooker, Serm. Justif., § 28. Let the Pope take downe his top and captiuate no more mens soules.

125 1694.  Motteux, Rabelais, IV. lxiv. (1737), 264. A fresh gale … began to fill the … Tops, and Top-gallants.

126   c.  Top and topgallant, short for topsail and top-gallant sail; hence fig. (also attrib.); as advb. with all sail set, in full array or career.

127 1593.  Nashe, Christ’s T., 71 b. Theyr heads, with theyr top and top gallant Lawne-baby caps.

128 1594.  Peele, Battle of Alcazar, III. iii. He cometh hitherward amain, Top and top-gallant, all in brave array.

129 1607.  Merry Devil Edmonton, I. i. 34. Heele be here top and top-gallant presently.

130 1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 646. I have seen … one Rose grow out of another, like Honey-suckle, that they call Top and Top-Gallants.

131 1662.  Owen, Animadv. Fiat Lux, xiii. Wks. (ed. Gould), XIV. 111. They carry their top and top-gallant so high that they will go to heaven without Christ.

132 1812.  Scott, Rokeby, II. xi. Top and top-gallant hoisted high,… The Dæmon-frigate braves the gale. Ibid. (1819), Lett., in Lockhart (1837), IV. viii. 239. I did not lose my senses,… but I thought once or twice they would have gone overboard, top and top-gallant.

133   10.  The uppermost part of the leg of a high boot or riding-boot, spec. when widened out or turned over (as in 17th c.); now, on hunting-boots and the like, a broad band of material (simulating the turned-over part), white, light-colored, or brown. Also pl. short for TOP-BOOTS.

134 1629.  Disc. Leather, 13. The manner of cutting Bootes out with huge, slouenly, vnmannerly, and immoderate tops.

135 1683.  Lond. Gaz., No. 1869/4. A pair of Boots without Tops.

136 1835.  Sir G. Stephen, Adv. Search Horse, xv. 193. Boots, that once had tops, approach within six inches of the knee.

137 1836–9.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, First of May. Knee-cords and tops superseded nankeen drawers and rosetted shoes. Ibid. (1837), Pickw., x. Mr. Samuel Weller happened to be … engaged in burnishing a pair of painted tops.

138 1846–79.  Egerton Warburton, Hunting Songs, lix. (1883), 162. Above the boots’ jet polish Was a top of tender stain, Nor brown nor white, but a mixture light, of rose-leaves and champagne.

139 1904.  Blackw. Mag., Nov., 675/2. They had red waistcoats, white breeches, white tops, black velvet caps and white gloves.

140   b.  The gauntlet part of a glove; the turned-down top part of men’s hose.

141 1819.  Scott, Leg. Montrose, ii. A pair of gauntlets,… the tops of which reached up to his elbow.

142 1906.  in Daily Chron., 20 Aug., 3/3. The Highland regiments introduced complications with five different tartans, and three different patterns of hose-tops.

143   11.  In various technical applications:

144   † a.  A piece (perh. a socket) fitted to the upper end of a torch-staff. Obs. b. The terminal joint of a fishing-rod. c. A jewel worn in the lobe of the ear, often with a ‘drop’ or pendant; usually in tops and drops. † d. A lady’s high ‘head’: see HEAD sb. 5. Obs. e. pl. A framing which increases the capacity of a cart; shelvings, cart-ladders, load-trees. f. Spinning. The top-cards in a carding-engine. g. The glass or metal stopper of a scent-bottle or the like; also, an inverted tumbler used as a cap to cover a decanter. h. The hood or cover of a carriage. i. Typog. See quot. j. A piece of female dress covering the neck and shoulders, worn with a certain kind of gown made without this part.

145   a.  1453.  Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 162. Pro faccione ij torchearum novarum et pro ij toppes magn. torch.

146   b.  1676.  Walton & Cotton, Angler, II. xii. 101. Though I have taken with the Angle … some thousands of Trouts … my top never snapt, though my Line still continued fast.

147 1706.  R. H[owlett], Angler’s Sure Guide, 79. The Stock [of the Rod] bored no wider than to carry a Ground-top therein, or a Flie-top.

148   c.  1703.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3942/4. Stolen…, a pair of Diamond Ear-Rings, with 4 large Faucet Diamonds (Tops and Drops).

149 1761.  Colman, Genius, No. 3, in Prose on Sev. Occas. (1787), I. 34. To humour my wife, little Tubal was ordered to furnish her with a pair of diamond tops.

150 1825.  T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Sutherl., I. 79. In her ears hung pendant diamonds, top and drop.

151   d.  1780.  Mrs. Delany, in Life & Corr. Ser. II. (1862), II. 524. Rows upon rows of fine ladies with towering tops.

152   e.  1844.  Stephens, Bk. Farm, III. 1087. The common cart … mounted with a framing called tops, is used in some parts of the country.

153   f.  1845.  Statist. Acc. Scot., VI. 147. In 1815 Mr. Smith constructed a carding-engine, having the flats or tops moveable on hinges.

154 1851.  L. D. B. Gordon, Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal., p. iv **/2. The large card-drum is generally surmounted by urchin or squirrel cards instead of tops.

155   g.  1862.  Miss Braddon, Lady Audley, xvi. Do you suppose that because people don’t wear vinegar tops, or part their hair on the wrong side … by way of proving the vehemence of their passion?

156 1869.  Anthony’s Photogr. Bull., II. 361. This stopper is of tin, has a top screw with two holes. Whenever this top is a little unscrewed the liquid can come out of the bottle by drops.

157 1893.  N. & Q., 8th Ser. III. 233/2. A carafe and ‘top’ is the shop-name for such a vessel [i.e., tumbler] and the bottle ministrant.

158   h.  1617.  Moryson, Itin., III. 54. The top of the Coaches is made with round hoopes.

159 1884–1898.  [implied in top-buggy, -phaeton, -wagon: see 26].

160   i.  1888.  Jacobi, Printer’s Vocab., 142. Tops. In slacking work as printed off, the warehouseman places a few sheets of each signature on the top, so that they may be at hand if a set of advanced sheets are asked for, thereby obviating the lifting of a quantity of work.

161   j.  1902.  Westm. Gaz., 14 Aug., 3/2. The main thing is to have several well-fitting slips and a selection of tops…. I saw a very pretty creamy chiffon top the other day.

162   12.  Short for top-button: see 32.

163 1852.  W. Hutton, in Househ. Words, V. 108/1. The long coats of our grandfathers, covered with half a gross of high-tops.

164 1860.  Tomlinson, Arts & Manuf., Ser. II. Buttons, 38. The buttons [are] stirred about in the solution for all-overs; or brushed on the face for tops.

165 1874.  Knight, Dict. Mech., 416/1. When the face only is gilt, the buttons are technically known as tops.

166   IV.  fig. and transf. The part of anything which has the first place in time, order, or precedence.

167   13.  Of time: The earliest part of a period; the beginning.

168   For the top of the morning, as a greeting, see 17.

169 c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., III. 1000. In thende of Octob’r, or in the toppe [orig. inicio] Of Novemb’r.

170 1669.  Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 98. A mellifluous Army of Bees, from the top of the morning, till the cool and dark evening.

171 1825.  Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 403/1. The dawn is awakened by a cry in the streets of ‘Hot-cross-buns; one-a penny buns…!’ This proceeds from some little ‘peep-o’-day boy,’ willing to take the ‘top of the morning’ before the rest of his compeers.

172   14.  The highest, chief, or leading position, place, or rank; the head, forefront; now esp. in the top of the tree (fig.).

173 1627.  Hakewill, Apol., Pref. 5. By vertue … being come to the top, they lost it againe by vice.

174 a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, II. 143. We who are placed in the top of nature.

175 1699.  Locke, Educ. (ed. 4), § 70. 104. Take a Boy from the top of a Grammar-School.

176 1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, IV. x. I thought to have seen him at the top of the tree, as one may say!

177 1879.  B. Taylor, Stud. Germ. Lit., 136. The medieval passion for song began at the top and worked downwards.

178 1885.  W. S. Gilbert, Mikado, I. I’m right at the top of the school.

179 1908.  Times, 3 Aug., 11/6. Brilliancy and determination … brought them to the top of the tree.

180   b.  One who or that which occupies the highest or chief position; the head (of a clan, family, etc.).

181 1612.  Day, Festivals, ii. (1615), 27. Adam the Top of our Kin.

182 1646.  J. Gregory, Notes & Obs. (1650), 30. Muazzus the Toppe of the Fatimæan family, caused the City of Gran Cairo to be set up.

183 1695.  J. Edwards, Perfect. Script., 332. Lastly man, the top and glory of the creatures.

184 1741.  Betterton, Eng. Stage, vi. 116. He looks upon himself as the Top of his Family.

185 1856.  Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., xxxviii. They barred out the master to make ‘the head usher’ top of the school.

186   15.  The highest pitch or degree; the height, summit, zenith, pinnacle; now esp. in the top of one’s bent (see BENT sb.2 9), the top of one’s voice.

187 1552.  in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. xvi. 294. What thyng at the first can atteyne to the toppe of perfectnesse.

188 1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. ii. 383. From my lowest Note, to the top of my Compasse.

189 1602–1875.  [see BENT sb.2 9].

190 1671.  Milton, Samson, 167. By how much from the top of wondrous glory,… To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall’n.

191 1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 32, ¶ 2. High Shoulders, as well as high Noses, were the Top of the Fashion.

192 1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 195. Let him be kept to the Top of his Speed.

193 1881.  Besant & Rice, Chapl. of Fleet, I. iv. All the drivers were swearing at each other at the top of their voices.

194   b.  One who or that which is or represents the highest pitch or degree; the most perfect example or type of something. (The constr. in quot. 1682 is obs. and rare.)

195 1593.  Q. Eliz., Boeth., 80. All such referd to greatest good, as to the top of Natures best.

196 1586.  T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 570. His goodnesse, bountie, grace, and fauour towardes vs, which is the toppe of happinesse.

197 1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., II. ii. 76. If he, which is the top of Iudgement, should But iudge you, as you are.

198 1682.  Dryden, Mac Fl., 167. But write thy best and top; and in each line Sir Formal’s oratory will be thine.

199 1711.  G. Hickes, Two Treat. Chr. Priesth. (1847), II. 297. The episcopate is the top of all the honours among men.

200 1885–6.  Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. cxxx. 8. Redemption is the top of covenant blessings.

201   c.  (absol. use of top as adj.: see 27–30). Motoring slang. The top or highest gear; usually on (the) top.

202 1906.  Westm. Gaz., 21 Aug., 4/2. It was only found necessary twice during the journey to change to the second speed, most of the run being done on the ‘top.’ Ibid. (1909), 30 Nov., 5/2. In this machine the driving is … always done on top.

203   16.  The highest point reached in a progression or series; the culminating point; esp. in the top of high water, of the tide; top of the market, the moment at which prices are highest.

204 a. 1670.  Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1850), I. 341. Grevous to the people, now in top of harvest.

205 1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. 299. It was just at the Top of High-Water when these People came on Shore.

206 1759.  Dilworth, Pope, 131. The hackney scribblers seizing the top of the market, had quite run down the subject.

207 1801.  Naval Chron., VI. 76. At the top of the tide she turned off the stocks.

208 1899.  Macmanus, Chimney Corners, 168. They’ll insure me the top of the market.

209   17.  The best or choicest part; the cream, flower, pick. Now esp. in the top of the morning, as an Irish morning greeting (cf. 13).

210 1663.  Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xiv. (1687), 96. A conjunction of the very top and flower of the mind with the beginning and original of all good.

211 1668.  Bp. Hopkins, Serm., Vanity (1685), 99. The soul, next to angels, is the very top and cream of the whole creation.

212 1752.  W. Thompson, R. N. Advoc., 44. Which their … Friends, the top of the Physical Faculty can verify.

213 1815.  Scott, Guy M., iv. The top of the morning to you, sir.

214 1843.  Lever, J. Hinton, lviii. Captain, my darling, the top of the morning to you!

215 1894.  Westm. Gaz., 10 April, 2/3. A ‘top of the basket’ young lady, like Lady Anne, would have been married long before the curtain rises.

216   b.  spec. pl. (a) The best sheep or lambs in a flock. (b) Members of the highest social class. (c) The better quality of grain, separated from the tails (TAIL sb.1 7 b. q.v.).

217 1831.  Sutherland Farm Rep., 80, in Libr. Usef. Knowl., Husb., III. The tops (the most choice and best breed) possess the outskirts of the ewe herding.

218 1886.  C. Scott, Sheep-Farming, 19. When a lot of sheep are drafted, they are assorted. The best lot are called ‘tops.’

219 1887.  Pall Mall G., 24 Aug., 11/1. Here … were given the dances when a party of London ‘Tops’ were invited to spend the Christmas holidays or to enjoy a week’s shooting.

220 1906.  J. Patterson, Wamphray, vii. 193. It threshes, separates ‘tops from tails,’ bags each separately, and bundles the straw.

221   V.  Applied to actions.

222   18.  The action of TOP v.1; the putting of a top on something; top-up, a finish or conclusion. rare.

223 1882.  [Lees & Clutterbuck], Three in Norway, 146. He thought this a grand top-up for a successful day.

224   19.  Forward spin imparted to a ball by the mode of its impulsion or delivery (in billiards, by striking it above the center; hence in cricket and tennis). Cf. TOPSIDE d, and top-twist in 32.

225 1901.  Westm. Gaz., 13 Aug., 2/3. A vertical twist given by friction against the ground analogous with ‘top’ on a billiard ball.

226 1903.  H. G. Hutchinson, Cricket, iv. 88. A ball … which … is simply propelled with a large quantity of ‘top on.’

227 1907.  C. B. Fry, in Daily Chron., 18 July, 7/2. Schwarz’s off-break, being produced by a perversion of leg-break action, contains an inordinate amount of ‘top.’

228   † 20.  Dice-play. A cheating trick in which one of the dice was retained at the top of the box.

229 1709.  Tatler, No. 68, ¶ 5. There is lately broke loose from the London Pack, a very tall dangerous Biter…. His Manner of Biting is new, and called the Top.

230 1711.  Puckle, Club, 22, note. Supposing both box and dice fair, gamesters have the top, the peep, eclipse, thumbing.

231   VI.  Phrases.

232   21.  At, on top: see prec. senses and quots.; fig. supreme; dominant; († in), on, upon (the) top of, above, upon, close upon, following upon.

233 1602.  Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 355. Little Yases, that crye out on the top of question. Ibid., 459. Others, whose iudgement in such matters, cried in the top of mine.

234 1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 394. Hee was vpon the top of his marriage.

235 1756.  C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, II. 125. With this inscription, at top.

236 1796.  Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, II. 62. One thing heaped o’top of t’other.

237 1868.  San Fran. Exam., 16 July, 2/1. ‘We’ve had him cornered, politically, forty times—had him down—had him every way—but he always came out on top.’

238 1886.  St. Stephen’s Rev., 13 March, 11/2. Two heavy falls in a week, and a bad cold on the top of them.

239 1898.  N. Gould, Landed at Last, iv. This year I fancy I shall be on top with my pair of brothers.

240 1903.  Farmer & Henley, Slang, s.v., To come out on top, to be successful.

241 1911.  Marett, Anthropol., ii. 43. On top of the Wealden dome.

242   22.  († In), on, upon one’s top, attacking or assailing one, esp. from a superior position; ‘coming down upon one,’ ‘about one’s ears.’ So never off one’s top. † In tops with, in or into conflict or antagonism with. Now chiefly Sc.

243 1494.  Fabyan, Chron., VII. ccxxiii. 249. He … suffered for a season, leste he hadde brought all in his toppe atones.

244 1519.  Horman, Vulg., 137. Euery man is in my toppe [ominibus sum infestus].

245 1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 125 b. To styre vp cruell warres, and set one in an others toppe.

246 1570.  G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 8. Strait wais M. Nevil was on mi top.

247 a. 1658.  T. Durham, Expos. Rev. xi. 2. (1680), 416. Fear to come in tops with this Word; it is a sword with two edges.

248 1680.  Archd. Aleson, in Cloud of Witnesses (1810), 46. Ye have Kirk and State upon your top.

249 1710.  J. Wilson, in Calderwood, Dying Test. (1806), 155. Who would have thought that those builders … would have so soon flown upon one anothers tops?

250 1825.  Jamieson, s.v. Tap, To be on one’s tap, to assault, literally; especially by flying at one’s head, or attempting to get hold of the hair.

251 1888.  in Scott. Leader, 3 May, 5/1. It’s a most singular thing that Bailie Lawson is always on my top about paltry things of that sort.

252   23.  Top … bottom. a. Top to bottom (also bottom to top), so that the highest part becomes the lowest; with complete inversion. b. From top to bottom = from top to toe (25). c. Top or bottom = top or tail (24 b). d. Top and bottom, (a) = top and tail, 24 a (a); (b) short for at top and bottom (of table).

253 [a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1328. Of clerkes lore top ne more [= root]. Ibid., 1422 [see 3].]

254 1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. (1651), 245. Turned … top to bottom, or bottom to top.

255 1666.  Pepys, Diary, 10 June. The management … was bad from top to bottom.

256 1887.  S. Cheshire Gloss., s.v., ‘That’s the top an’ the bottom on it’ corresponds to ‘that is the long and the short of it.’

257   24.  Top … tail. a. Top and tail (also † tail and top). (a) The whole, everything without exception, every part. (b) The long and short of it, the substance, upshot (also the top, tail, and mane). (c) advb. From head to foot, from beginning to end; all over. (d) Bottom upwards, topsy-turvy (now dial.). b. Top or tail, also top, tail, or mane (root), (in negative statements), any part; anything definite or intelligible; head or tail. c. From top to tail = top and tail, a (c); also fig. wholly, absolutely.

258 1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5416. Þarfor shul þey … Go to helle, both top and tayle.

259 c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 371 (Fairf. MS.). Toppe and taylle and euery del … euery word that spoken ys.

260 c. 1440.  York Myst., xxxi. 193. Tell hyme fro toppe vnto tayle.

261 1550.  Bale, Apol., 106 b. It is in the whole, toppe and iayle, length and bredth, begynnynge and endynge.

262 1558.  Phaër, Æneid, v. N j b. Headlong down in dust he ouerturnyd tayle and topp.

263 1727.  P. Walker, Remark. Passages (1827), 212. His Sermon had neither Top, Tail, nor Mane.

264 1822.  Carlyle, Early Lett. (1886), II. 32. They will … make neither ‘top, tail, nor root out of it.’

265 1874.  T. Hardy, Far fr. Madding Crowd, II. xxvi. 329. The top and tail o’t is this.

266 1888.  Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v., The pony put his foot in a rabbit’s hole and proper turned top-on-tail.

267   d.  Top over tail, app. an inversion of tail over top (which also occurs: cf. head over heels, HEAD sb. 44): upside down, topsy-turvy. Also attrib. Chiefly north. dial.

268 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 70. Into þe waise þam fro he tombled top ouer taile.

269 c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 16727. He bar him tayl ouer top, That he lay ther as a sop.

270 1535.  Lyndesay, Satyre, 3744. Bot this fals world is turnit top ouir taill.

271 1786.  Pogonologia, 6. The Culbute (the flying-top-over-tail hoop).

272 1819.  W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d, 200. Cam tumblin’ tap-owr-tail.

273 1881.  Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Top o’er tail, head over heels—completely over.

274   25.  Top … toe. a. From top to († into, † unto) toe, from head to foot, in every part; also fig. from beginning to end, throughout, entirely.

275 [a. 1225.  Juliana, 59. Ouer al & from þe top to þe tan.]

276 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxiii. (Sleperis), 121. Malchus … tald þame fra tope to ta Quhow decius þame socht to sla.

277 c. 1425.  Cast. Persev., 615, in Macro Plays, 95. I holde þee trewe ffro top to þe too.

278 1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 241 b. Thou art made abhominable from the toppe of [? to] the too.

279 1545.  Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, Prol. B ij. I … reuisying from top to too the sayde booke.

280 1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 267. After this follow fifteene other most faire Camels,… couered from top to toe with Silke.

281 1718.  Mrs. Delany, in Life & Corr. (1861), I. 45. Top-a-Toe, my dear Niece, Your most affectionate, Faithful, humble servant, Lansdowne.

282 1887.  Lowell, Democr., 87. English from top to toe.

283   † b.  Neither top nor toe, no part or vestige; = top nor tail (see 24 b). Obs. rare–1.

284 1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 269. There stood in old time a citie, but now neither top nor toe, as they say, remaineth of it.

285   VII.  Combinations and collocations.

286   * attrib. uses, passing into adjective in 27–30.

287   26.  Having a top, fitted with a top, as top-buggy, -phaeton, -stocking, -wagon; top-ship (see 33).

288 1894.  Howells, in Harper’s Mag., Feb., 381. Grocers don’t drive round in *top-buggies. Ibid. (1898), Open-eyed Conspir., 52. Buoyant *top-phaetons and surreys, with their light-limbed horses.

289 1686.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2126/4. Light-coloured *Top-Stockings striped with black.

290 1884.  Roe, Nat. Ser. Story, x. He hastened to harness Thunder to his light *top-wagon. (See also TOP-BOOT.)

291   27.  Of or pertaining to the top, belonging to the top; situated, placed, or growing at or on the top of something; topmost, upper, uppermost. Now usually written separate as adj.

292 1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., V. ii. 14. Whose top-branch ouerpeer’d Ioues spreading Tree.

293 1610.  Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 225. Nero … got first of all to the top-turret of all this enormity.

294 c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XX. 211. These twice-six colts had pace so swift, they ran Upon the top-ayles of corn-ears, nor bent them any whit.

295 1656.  Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. lxxvii. (1674), 99. If they fall to cut down the top-boughs.

296 1676.  Moxon, Print. Lett., 6. The Top-line is the line that bounds the top of the Ascending Letters.

297 1707.  Mortimer, Husb. (1721), II. 139. An Herb whose top Leaves are a Sallet of themselves.

298 1769.  Mrs. Raffald, Eng. Housekpr. (1778), 91. It is proper for a top dish at night, or a side dish for dinner.

299 1805.  R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., I. 34. Advantages in carrying top-loads.

300 1827.  Steuart, Planter’s G. (1828), 328. The topshoots of the former year will inevitably be cut down.

301 1833.  T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., I. vii. A five pound fish … had snapped off the top-joint of his four guinea rod.

302 1851.  Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., I. 700. How … we may … as we reach Our own grapes, bend the top vines to supply The children’s uses.

303 1865.  Sat. Rev., 21 Jan., 80/2. The want of protection of the top-shifts against fire.

304 1875.  Knight, Dict. Mech., 1465/2. A crowning molding is a top member.

305 1888.  Honnor Morten, Sk. Hosp. Life, 46. There were two doors on the top landing.

306 1904.  J. Sweeney, At Scotl. Yard, v. 110. The carriages … passed … along the top side, passing out at the left hand top corner.

307 1906.  Athenæum, 15 Dec., 777/3. A top stop was equivalent to a stop … in the upper focal plane of the objective.

308 Mod.  The top end of the tube is sealed.

309   28.  Forming or constituting the top, or the exterior surface or layer; upper, outer.

310   Now usually separate, as in prec. sense.

311 1603.  Florio, Montaigne, II. xii. (1632), 275. A light stroke that dooth scarce the top-skin wound.

312 1634–5.  Brereton, Trav. (Chetham), 96. They cutt and flea top-turves with linge upon them.

313 1707.  Mortimer, Husb. (1721), II. 384. Take away some of the Top exhausted Earth.

314 1838.  Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 97/2. Walls of rubble,… which support a top covering of flat stones.

315 1868.  Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869), 169. Mild loamy top soil, with a subsoil more tough.

316 1874.  Crookes, Dyeing & Calico-Print., 526. Putting a top bloom on blacks.

317 1879.  B. Taylor, Stud. Germ. Lit., 38. Hollow spaces cut in the top-slab of his tombstone.

318 1883.  R. Haldane, Workshop Receipts, Ser. II. 236/2. Aniline colours … are now usefully employed as top colours … brushed in very dilute solution over vegetable colours.

319 1891.  Daily News, 11 July, 5/4. Top milk and bottom milk have been proved to be practically the same.

320 1904.  Archæol. Æliana, XXV. II. 253. A foot-and-a-half of blackish top-soil.

321 1912.  Nation, 10 Feb., 779/2. Good farming increases the humus or productive ‘top spit’ of the land.

322   29.  First in rank, order, or quality; principal, chief, most eminent, best.

323 1647.  N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. vi. 22. Bishops, who are now … the very top-flowers of wisdom and learning.

324 1649.  Roberts, Clavis Bibl., 292. The flourishing or Top-glory of Israels Kingdome under K. Solomon.

325 1657.  Austen, Fruit Trees, II. 45. This is the top priviledg of beleivers.

326 1697.  Collier, Immor. Stage, iv. (1698), 242. These Sparks generally marry the Top-ladies.

327 1712.  E. Cooke, Voy. S. Sea, 73. The Top Nation of all that Part of the World for Bravery.

328 1713.  Steele, Englishman, No. 40. 261. When they grow up, Dancing is the top Accomplishment.

329 1727–41.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Physiognomy, The top modern authors on physiognomy.

330 1733.  Swift, Lett. to Pope, 2 April. They are certainly the top wits of the Court.

331 1750.  R. Pococke, Trav. (Camden), I. 50. One of their top merchants.

332 1774.  J. Hawley, in J. Adams’ Wks., IX. 345. Our top Tories here give out … that he will certainly be taken up before the Congress.

333 1794.  Godwin, Cal. Williams, 291. Regarded as the top gentry of the place.

334 1819.  Keats, Lett. (in Daily Chron., 26 March (1904), 9/2). Fine writing is, next to fine doings, the top thing in the world.

335   30.  Highest (in degree), greatest (in amount); very high, very great; also in weakened sense, first-rate, tip-top, excellent.

336 1714.  G. Lockhart, Mem. Scot., 229. Obliged to go off at a top Gallop.

337 1736.  Duchess Portland, in Mrs. Delany’s Life & Corr. (1861), I. 563. The Speaker was in top good humour.

338 1769.  Lady M. Coke, Jrnl., 6 Aug. The Duchess … said she was in a top sweat.

339 a. 1774.  Fergusson, Caller Oysters, xi. The fisher-wives will get top livin.

340 1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life, XVIII. xii. His common trot is just a match for your top speed.

341 1872.  Michie, Deeside Tales, v. 49. He reached the house ‘in a top sweat.’

342 1894.  Lit. World, 13 April, 341/2. One [who] commands ‘top prices’ for serial rights.

343 1896.  Belfast News-Letter, 4 Aug., 3/3. Apart from this he was in his top form [at golf], as the scores show:—Toogood, 75 and 73; Yeeoman, 81 and 80.

344 1902.  Daily Chron., 20 Dec., 7/5. Half a dozen hounds went at top pace towards Tugby.

345   ** Locative, etc., combinations.

346   31.  In sense ‘at or to the top,’ as top-draining, -pruning; top-dry, -filled, -ironed, -laden, -loose, -shackled, -tempestuous, -turned adjs. See also TOP-DRESS, TOP-FULL, TOP-HAMPER, TOP-HEAVY, TOPKNOT, etc.

347 1860.  Worcester, *Top-draining, the act or the practice of draining the surface of land.

348 c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XVI. 219. From a coffer … *top-fild with vests; warme robes to checke cold wind.

349 1691.  trans. Emilianne’s Observ. Journ. Naples, 104. The Treasuries of their Churches are top fill’d with these kind of precious Relicks.

350 1910.  Daily Chron., 12 Jan., 5/7. One with perfect nailing, beautifully executed, *top-ironed, and with exquisitely finished edging.

351 1831.  Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. iii. There, *topladen,… rolls in the country Baron and his household.

352 1887.  Pall Mall G., 28 June, 6/1. On each side of the hall are aisles, *top-lighted.

353 1905.  Daily Chron., 17 May, 8/5. Private offices are ananged along the back and top-lighted.

354 1747.  Hooson, Miner’s Dict., U ij b. This being *Toploose, gives more Liberty for the cutting thereof than the taking of a whole Roof.

355 1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 343. Ringing … may often serve as a substitute both for root pruning and *top pruning.

356 1612.  N. Field, Woman a Weathercock, III. ii. E iv. Oh good old woman, she is *topshackeld.

357 1632.  Lithgow, Trav. (1906), 346. Like to a halfe ballast ship tottering on *top-tempestuous waves.

358 1903.  Westm. Gaz., 5 July, 2/3. Black crowns Of wind-worn pines … *top-turned by gales that weighed Them eastward.

359   *** Special combinations and collocations.

360   32.  In general senses of top.

361   (When top is adjectival, properly without hyphen.)

362   Top-beam = COLLAR-BEAM 1; top-binder, ? a branch serving to bind the upper part of a hedge; top-block: see quot. (see also 33 b); top breadth, the breadth of the ship at the level of the top-timbers; top-breadth line, a line in a plan showing the longitudinal curve of the ship’s side at the level of the top-timbers; top-button, † (a) a metal button of which the top or face is gilt or silvered; (b) an ornamental knob on the top of a mast; top-card (Spinning), a flat strip of wood covered with hooked teeth set over the drum of a carding-engine; top-cast [CAST sb. 18] = top-swarm; top coal, an important seam, which in the southern part of the Shropshire coal-field is the topmost; top-coat, overcoat, great-coat, outer coat; hence top-coated a.; top-contact, contact at the top or upper surface; top-crop, (a) see top-fruit; (b) (Mining) an outcrop; top-cross (Horse-breeding), a cross in which one parent is of pure or superior blood (U.S.); top dog, lit. the dog uppermost or ‘on top’ in a fight; fig. the victorious or dominant party; top drawer, the uppermost drawer in a cabinet or the like; also fig.; top-drive (Mech.) = top-gear (b); top flask (Founding), the upper part of a molder’s flask when made in two parts; the ‘cope’ when a ‘drag’ is used (Cent. Dict. Suppl., 1909); top-flat (Spinning) = top-card, FLAT C. 8 d (Knight, Dict. Mech., 1877); top-fruit, fruit growing on trees, as distinct from bush-fruit and ground-fruit (strawberries, etc.); top-fuller, a top-tool having a narrow rounded edge (Knight, 1877); top-gear, (a) the rigging, sails, and spars of a ship; (b) (without hyphen) in power transmission, the alternative gearing that produces the highest speed in proportion to that of the motor; top-graft v., trans. (Horticulture) ? to set new grafts on the stumps of lopped boughs; top-hard (coal): see quot. 1834–5, and cf. top coal; top-head (Mining): see quot.; top-heat (Horticulture), heat generated in a frame or greenhouse; cf. bottom heat s.v. BOTTOM sb. 19; top-hole, (a) (Mining) = top-head; (b) = top-notch; attrib. first-rate, ‘tip-top’ (slang); † top-honors (nonce-use), the topsails of a ship, in reference to the custom of lowering them in token of respect; top-house (Naut.), a deck-house; top iron, the upper iron in a carpenter’s plane, adjusted so as to stiffen the cutter and turn up the shavings; the break-iron; top-land, high or elevated land, highland; top-latch (dial.), the strap or thong used to fasten the hames together at the top; top lift, (a) [LIFT sb.2 5], the uppermost working in a cutting, etc.; (b) the external layer of a boot or shoe heel; see also 33 a; top-line (in cattle), the profile line of the back from the center of the shoulders to the end of the hip-bones; top-loader (Lumbering), one who works at the top of a load of logs (N. Amer.); top notch, the highest notch; fig. the highest point attainable; also attrib. first-rate, ‘tip-top’; hence top-notcher, a first-rate person or thing, a ‘tip-topper’; top note, the highest note in a singer’s compass; also fig.; top-onion, the Canada or tree onion (Allium Cepa proliferum), bearing a cluster of small green bulbs at the top of the stem, instead of flowers and seed; top plate, the back plate of a watch-movement; top-proud a., proud to the highest degree; top-rail (Carpentry): see quot. 1823 (also 33 b); top-rider (Shipbuilding): see quot.; † top-right a. (nonce-wd.), upright, erect; top rock (Coal-mining), the uppermost stratum of (hard) rock; top-roll, some part of a bridle-bit; top saw, the upper of a pair of circular saws, cutting down to meet the kerf of the lower; topscript [nonce-wd. after postscript], something written at the top of a letter; top-set sb., the top section of a vein of ore, which has sections of different width at different depths; top-set a., set or deposited at the top, or above something else; in Mining and Geol., spec. of a bed, layer, or stratum; top-sew v., trans. to hem by oversewing; top shelf, the uppermost and least accessible shelf; also attrib. in fig. expressions: (a) as in top-shelf book, a book seldom used, or that is to be kept out of the way; (b) first-rate; cf. top-notch; hence top-shelfer, a person or thing of the highest class; top-soil v., to pare off the top soil (see sense 28); top story, the uppermost story of a house; fig. the head as the seat of intellect; also attrib.; top-string (dial.) = top-latch; top-swarm (Sc. and north. dial.), the first swarm of the season thrown off by a hive of bees; also fig.; hence top-swarmer; top-tail v., intr. to turn the tail up and head down, as a whale in diving (Cent. Dict.); top-, tap-thrawn a., Sc., perverse, obstinate, wrong-headed; top-tool, any smith’s tool that is held upon the work while being struck, as distinct from a bottom-tool, which is socketed in the anvil; top-turnip, the turnip-cabbage, KOHLRABI (Cent. Dict. Suppl.); top-twist = sense 19; top wall (Mining): see quot.; top-water (Mining): see quot. 1894; top-weight, the heaviest weight carried by a horse in a race; also transf. a horse carrying this weight; top-yeast, the yeast that forms on the top of fermenting liquor (Cent. Dict. Suppl.). See also TOP-BOOT, etc.

363 1679.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., viii. 147. *Top-beam.

364 1823.  P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., Gloss., Top-beams, the collar-beam of a truss;… formerly called wind-beam or strut-beam, and now collar-beam.

365 1883.  Pennell-Elmhirst, Cream of Leicestersh., 402. A horse … will make short work of an ordinary *topbinder when once the sap of the thorn has gone to the roots.

366 1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Top-block,… a projecting piece on which the bows of a carriage rest when down.

367 1846.  A. Young, Naut. Dict., 278. The Top-timber Line, or *top-breadth Line, a curve describing the height of the top-timbers, which gives the sheer of the vessel.

368 1574.  in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 243. *Topp Buttons and frenge Lace.

369 1856.  Emerson, Eng. Traits, ii. 34. The mainmast, from the deck to the top-button, measured 115 feet.

370 1874.  Knight, Dict. Mech., 470/1. These slats are called card-tops, *top-cards, or top-flats.

371 1827.  G. Higgins, Celtic Druids, ii. § 37. 78. It seems reasonable to expect that from these great *top casts, smaller ones should be found branching off to different countries.

372 1803.  Plymley, Agric. Shropsh., 56. *Top-coal.

373 1841.  Hartshorne, Salop. Antiq., Gloss.

374 1879.  Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., 90.

375 1819.  *Top-coat [implied in top-coated].

376 1821.  Blackw. Mag., Jan., 406/2. He had twa tap-coats and a plaid on.

377 1858.  Ramsay, Remin., vi. (1870), 235. [He] offered the beggar an old top-coat.

378 1819.  R. Anderson, Cumberld. Ball., 63. *Top-cwoatet squire.

379 1849.  D. J. Browne, Amer. Poultry Yd. (1855), 114. Artificial heat most ingeniously applied by *‘top contact.’ Ibid. The difference … between top-contact heat and that received from radiation as applied to hatching.

380 1889.  Daily News, 29 June, 6/3. He foresees a corresponding depression in what he calls ‘the *top crops.’

381 1895.  G. Huntington, in Chicago Advance, 19 Dec., 910/3. And it ain’t top-crop rock, anyhow.

382 1890.  Breeder’s Gaz. (Chicago), 28 March (Cent.). A filly with three *top crosses or a horse with four top crosses can be registered [in the stud-book].

383 1900.  Speaker, 28 April, 97/1. The most popular argument in favour of the war is that it will make the individual Briton *top dog in South Africa.

384 1906.  P. White, Eight Guests (Tauchn.), I. 66. Marcus had never had a tussle yet without coming out ‘top dog!’

385 1906.  Daily Chron., 26 March, 6/4. I recall … many in which I started as under-dog and came out top-dog.

386 1905.  H. A. Vachell, The Hill, i. 1. Such boys, as a rule, do not come out of the *top drawer.

387 1909.  Westm. Gaz., 16 Nov., 5/2. The gear ratios are given as: 1st, 15 to 1; 2nd, 8.4 to 1; and on the *top-drive 4.7.

388 1874.  *Top-flats [see top-card].

389 1884.  Pall Mall G., 15 Aug., 2/1. (1) *Top fruit, such as apples, pears, plums, cherries, medlars, and quinces; (2) bush fruit…; (3) ground fruit.

390 1903.  Q. Rev., Oct., 390. A plantation of top and bottom fruit.

391 1884.  Pae, Eustace, 100. He’s a trim craft as I would not like to damage in the *top-gear.

392 1909.  Westm. Gaz., 28 Jan., 4/1. Handcross and Reigate, both of which the Napier can stealthily scale on top-gear and think nothing of it. Ibid. (1910), 21 April, 5/2. The extraordinary top-gear hill climbing powers of the Ford.

393 1897.  Bailey, Princ. Fruit-growing, 342. It will probably pay to *top-graft them.

394 1834–5.  J. Phillips, Man. Geol. (1855), 190. The thickest coal in the district, called the *‘top hard,’ is the same bed as that called the thick or ten-foot coal in Yorkshire.

395 1867.  W. W. Smyth, Coal & Coal-mining, 56. Cutting the top-hard coal at 510 yards deep.

396 1883.  Gresley, Gloss. Coal Mining, *Top Heads (S.S.), passages driven in the upper part of the Thick coal for draining off the gas.

397 1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 501. That lively heat within the frame, which is usually called *top-heat.

398 1905.  Dundee Advert., 23 Jan., 5. The victims … at the time of the explosion were engaged widening the *‘tophole’ between No. 6 and No. 7 levels.

399 1899.  Conan Doyle, Duet, vi. 74. We certainly did ourselves up to the top hole last night.

400 1908.  E. V. Lucas, Over Bemertons, ii. ‘A top-hole idea,’ he called it.

401 1909.  Blackw. Mag., Sept., 409/1. A piece like the Merry Widow … would be top-hole.

402 1700.  Prior, Carmen Seculare, 478. Let all the naval world due homage pay; With hasty reverence their *top-honours lower.

403 1803.  T. Netherton, in Naval Chron., XV. 220. Shipwrights employed in the capstern and *top house.

404 1815.  J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, I. 108. It is always necessary to make the *top-iron fit the blade so correctly that no shaving can get between them.

405 1877.  Kinglake, Crimea, VI. vi. 71. The high … *topland or spine of Mount Inkerman. Ibid., 446. The Inkerman toplands.

406 1842.  Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., V. 60/1. The *‘top lift’ was deposited in spoil bank.

407 1901.  Daily Record & Mail, 28 Nov., 2. A new machine … will do heel-shaving, rough scouring, fine scouring, heel-edge blacking, top-lift blacking, heel-burnishing, top-lift burnishing, and breasting.

408 1904.  Amer. Inventor, 15 April, 184. The *toploader is the man who runs the greatest risks.

409 1848.  N. York Com. Adv., 16 Oct. (Bartlett). To-day the editor of the Union is cheered to the very top notch of joyous exultation…; tomorrow he is horrified.

410 1888.  N. York Herald (Dixon). The effect of their [locusts’] blighting touch has not yet reached the top notch.

411 1897.  J. K. Bangs, Pursuit of House-boat, iii. 51. We beached her very successfully. I say this in defence of my seamanship, which was top-notch for my day.

412 1902.  13th Rep. Kansas State Bd. Agric., 64. There are not a sufficient number of *‘top-notchers’ to go around, the result being … the use of many inferior specimens.

413 1896.  Daily News, 28 Dec., 3/2. Another even more popular ballad (or whatever he calls it), known as ‘Mary Jane’s *Top-note.’

414 1908.  A. Noyes, W. Morris, 54. Never once do we feel that he is exerting himself, or on his top-note.

415 1884.  Britten, Watch & Clockm., 47. The full cap to full plate watches covers the *top plate.

416 1885.  C. G. W. Lock, Workshop Receipts, Ser. IV. 327/1. Push out the pillar pins, and remove the top plate.

417 1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. i. 151. This *top-proud fellow … I doe know To be corrupt and treasonous.

418 1679.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., viii. 147. *Top-rail of the Balcony.

419 1823.  P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., Gloss., Top rail, the upper rail of a piece of framing or wainscotting.

420 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Upper or *top-rider futtocks, these timbers stand nearly the same as breadth-riders, and very much strengthen the topside.

421 1562.  Phaër, Æneid, IX. D d j. His *topright crest from crown downe battred falles.

422 1803.  Plymley, Agric. Shropsh., 56. *Top-rock 7 yds. 0 ft. 0 in.

423 a. 1879.  in Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., 89. Soil,… Clay,… Loose Rock,… Coal,… Blue Clod,… Red Clunch,… Top Rock,… White Clod,… Brown Clunch.

424 1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Bit, The several parts of a snaffle or curb bit are … Trench, *Top-roll, Flap, and Jeive.

425 1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., 2597/2. The *top-saw is a little in advance or rear of the under one, to make the kerf complete without collision of the teeth of the respective saws.

426 1731.  Lady B. Germain, Lett. to Swift, 4 Nov. So much for your *topscript, not postscript;… I heartily thank you for remembering me so often.

427 1747.  Hooson, Miner’s Dict., S ij. There are some Veins when once discover’d, carry Ore of a whole Stool-end, twenty or thirty Yards in Depth…; then the Ore cuts off on the Sole, and the Vein becomes hard and streat,… and endures so many Yards in Sinking, and then at last breaks over again, and the Ore proves to be as good and stronge as … before; these Levells are called Sets, as the first is the *Top-Set, the second which is found out by Sinking through the Deadness, is called the Under-Set.

428 1905.  Chamberlin & Salisbury, Geol., I. iii. 191. Deposition is also taking place on the top of the delta. These *top-set beds are laid down in a nearly horizontal position.

429 1876.  Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., x. The sheets and table-cloths we *top-sewed when we were children.

430 1808.  G. Ellis, Lett., in Lockhart, Scott (1837), II. iv. 145. I should have ranked it … on the very *top shelf of English poetry.

431 1882.  Top-shelf [implied in top-shelfer].

432 1882.  Standard, 14 Feb., 2/1. [Fielding’s ‘Tom Jones’] made known to the ingenuous youth as a ‘top-shelf’ book in a library.

433 1891–2.  Lupton Bros. Catal., Dec. and Jan. Gentlemen requiring scarce and top-shelf books.

434 1905.  E. W. Hornung, Thief in Nt. (Tauchn.), 12. ‘Nice house?’ said Raffles…. ‘Top shelf,’ said I.

435 1882.  N. York Tribune, 12 July. The rich tourist, or as the frontiersman calls him, ‘the *top-shelfer,’ who goes about with guides and a luxurious outfit.

436 1894.  Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), 27 Oct., 5/1. Let the lonely hunter join some experienced trapper, and at a very moderate cost he will learn more of the Rockies in six months than the ‘top-shelfer’ will in six years.

437 1860.  Worcester, *Top-soiling, the act of taking off the top-soil.

438 1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiii. III. 347. From a window in the *top story of one of the loftiest of those gigantic houses.

439 1903.  [Ld. W. Neville], Penal Servitude, 150. [Prisoners] who are more or less touched in the top story.

440 1904.  Daily Chron., 9 May, 8/4. In every top-storey window the machinery can be seen working.

441 1690.  J. Wodrow, in Life (1828), 112. These may be named the *Tap-swarm.

442 a. 1905.  Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., Top, Twea topswarms ’ll mak’ a strang hive.

443 1856.  Aird, Poet. Wks., 404. The unfinished skep For June *top-swarmers.

444 1808–18.  Jamieson, *Tapthrawn, adj.,… having the … top, or head distorted; or in allusion to the hair of the head lying in an awkward and unnatural manner.

445 1819.  W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 194. A tap-thrawn monk wi’ roundit cap.

446 1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Top-tool, a blacksmith’s tool … used above the work, being struck by a hammer.

447 1881.  Raymond, Mining Gloss., *Top-wall. See Hanging-wall. Ibid., Hanging-side or Hanging-wall, or Hanger (Cornw.), the wall or side over the vein.

448 1778.  W. Pryce, Min. Cornub., 21. A very large proportion of our Mine Water is temporary; and … is denominated *Top Water.

449 1894.  Northumbld. Gloss., Top-watter, water percolating through the roof of a coal mine.

450 1892.  Daily News, 28 March, 3/5. It looks as if the *top-weights are in the Grand National precluded from winning…. It is time the top-weights had a chance in this event. Ibid. (1896), 19 Feb., 2/6. Another top-weight got home safely in the February Hurdle Handicap, Doge, about whom as little as 3 to 1 was taken.

451   33.  From senses 9 and 9 b; (top being also short for topsail or topmast), as a. top-bowline, -lift (LIFT sb.2 7; see also 32), -sheet, -shroud, -stay, -yard. b. † top-arming, top-armor, † top-arms (pl.): see quots. a. 1625, 1867; top-block, a large block suspended below the cap of the lower mast, used in hoisting or lowering topmasts (see also 32); top-brim: see quot. 1794, and cf. top-rim; top-burton: see quot. 1867 and BURTON; also attrib.; top-chain, a chain used to sling the yards in action, in case the ropes by which they are hung should be shot away; top-cloth: see quot. and cf. top-armor; top-lantern, top-light: see quot. 1867; top-lining, topsail-lining: see quots.; also ‘a platform of thin board nailed upon the upper part of the cross-trees on a vessel’s top’ (Smyth); top-maul: see quot. 1867; † top-nail, ? = FID sb.2; top-nettings sb. pl.: see top-armor (quot. 1867); top-pendant, a pendant used in hoisting and lowering topmasts (Cent. Dict., 1891); top-rail: see quot. (also 32); top-rim = top-brim; top-rope: see quot. a. 1625; to sway (erron. swing) (away) on all top-ropes, to go to great lengths; so to be on (the) top-ropes; † top-royal, short for top-gallant royal: see TOPGALLANT; † top-ship, a ship having tops; = TOPMAN1 1; top-tackle, a tackle used in raising or lowering topmasts. See also TOP-CASTLE, TOPGALLANT, TOPMAN1, TOPMAST, TOPSAIL.

452 1486.  Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 14. A *Top Armyng of say.

453 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Top-armings, hammocks stowed inside the rigging for the protection of riflemen.

454 1485.  Cely Papers (Camden), 184. Item ij ȝerdes di rede … for the *topearmer…. Item an ȝerde of wyght for the same.

455 1514.  Inv. Henri Grace de Dieu, in Oppenheim, Admin. Roy. Navy (1896), I. 377. Top Armours … vii.

456 a. 1625.  Nomenclator Navalis (Harl MS. 2301), Topparmors are the clothes which are tied aboute the Tops of the mastes for shewe and also for to hide menn in the Fight which lie there to fling fire-potts [etc.].

457 1823.  Crabb, Technol. Dict., s.v. Top.

458 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v. Top, This top was formerly fenced on the afterside by a rail about three feet high, between the stanchions of which a netting was usually constructed, and stowed in action with hammocks. This was covered with red baize, or canvas painted red, and called the top-armour.

459 c. 1599.  MS. Otho E. ix., in Bree, Cursory Sk. Nav., Mil. & Civ. Estab. (1791), I. 217. For waste cloaths and *top-arms.

460 1769.  Falconer, Marine Dict. (1776), s.v. Block, The *top-block is used to hoist up or lower down the top-masts, and is for the purpose hooked in an eye-bolt driven into the cap. Ibid. (1762), Shipwr., II. 149. The halyards and *top-bow-lines soon are gone.

461 1730.  Capt. W. Wriglesworth, MS. Log-bk. of the ‘Lyell,’ 30 Nov. Arm‘d the fore Shrouds, Matted the *Top-brims.

462 1794.  Rigging & Seamanship, I. 90. Top-brim, a space in the middle of the foot of a topsail, containing one-fifth of the number of its cloths,… so called from … being near the fore part of the top,… when the sail is extended.

463 1797.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVII. 433/2. The holes for marling the clues of sails and the top-brims of topsails have grommets of log-line.

464 c. 1860.  H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 46. The topmen will hand out the *top burtons.

465 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Burton, a small tackle … generally used to set up or tighten the shrouds, whence it is frequently termed a top-burton tackle.

466 1698.  in MSS. Ho. Lords, N.S. (1905), III. 344. Asked if the *top-chains, davits and fishes were made use of to make a boom.

467 1772–84.  Cook, Voy. (1790), VI. 1989. The boats were moored with top-chains.

468 1815.  Burney, Falconer’s Dict. Marine, *Top-Cloth, a large piece of canvas, used to cover the hammocks which are lashed in the top when prepared for action.

469 1748.  Anson’s Voy., I. x. 98. The main top-sail shook so strongly in the wind, that it carried away the *top lanthorn.

470 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Top-lantern, or Top-light, a large signal lantern placed in the after-part of a top.

471 1485.  Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 48. Toppe yerdes … j, *Toppe lyftes … ij.

472 1809.  J. Thicknesse, in Naval Chron., XXII. 57. I carried a *top-light.

473 1794.  Rigging & Seamanship, I. 93. The *toplining of topsails is of canvas, No. 6 or 7.

474 1882.  Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 11. Top lining.—Double part on the after side of a topsail, to take the chafe of the top, etc.

475 1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 214. The *top mall, which being made fast to the head of the main-mast, was wash’d ashore.

476 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Top-maul, a large hammer used to start the topmast fid, and to beat down the top, when setting up topmast-rigging.

477 1352.  Acc. Excheq. Q. R., Bundle 20 No. 27 (P. R. O.). Pro quadam clav[o] ferri vocato *toppenaill’ pro eodem mast.

478 1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Cercles de hune, the *top rails, which formerly surrounded the tops, when circular. Ibid. (1780), s.v. Out-rigger, It is then thrust out to it’s usual distance beyond the *top-rim, where it is securely fastened.

479 a. 1625.  Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301), *Top-Roapes are those Roapes wherewith wee sett or strike the Top-mastes.

480 1762.  Falconer, Shipwr., II. 259. At each mast-head the top-ropes others bend.

481 1864.  Burton, Scot Abr., I. iii. 119. Apt to attempt feats … in nautical phrase, ‘to swing on all top-ropes.’

482 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., ‘Swaying on all top-ropes,’ figuratively, ‘going the whole hog’ in joviality or any trickery.

483 1868.  W. Pengelly, in H. Pengelly, Life, xii. (1897), 188. The veteran … was on the top ropes about the meeting.

484 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, lxxxviii. 30. Thy Ryuer … Where many a ship doth rest with *toppe-royall.

485 1485.  Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 48. Toppe lyftes … ij. *Toppe shetes … ij.

486 1562.  Phaër, Æneid, VIII. Z iv. His crowne couragious shines with garland wun from *topshipsnout.

487 1631.  Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 718. Two and fifty religious structures, as many windmils, and as many toppe Ships in Dunwich.

488 1485.  Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 48. Toppe mastes … j, *Toppe shrowdes … vj.

489 1751.  Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), IV. xcviii. 275. ‘Split my *topstay-sail,’ said he.

490 1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), B b iij. To the lower end of the top-rope is fixed the *top-tackle.

491 1485.  Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 48. Toppe mastes … j, Toppe shrowdes … vj, *Toppe yerdes … j.

492   34.  In sense 2 b, as top-dyeing, -maker, -making, -master, (tops-)mill; † topwork, wool-combing.

493 1888.  Daily News, 16 April, 2/7. Merino tops are firm in price,… though *top makers are said to have little margin for profit.

494 1891.  Labour Commission, Gloss. s.v., Some woolstaplers are also ‘top-makers,’ i. e., woolcombers. In woolcombing the long smooth fibres are combed out into ‘tops,’ so called from the form in which the ‘ribbon’ of wool is coiled upon its spindle being like a spinning top.

495 1896.  Balme & Co. Wool Brokers Circular, 15 May. Long-stapled parcels which … were largely purchased by the Bradford Topmakers.

496 1884.  W. S. B. McLaren, Spinning (ed. 2), 116. Balling or *Top-Making.—One other process follows combing … namely, balling, or making into ‘tops.’

497 1902.  Times, 6 Nov., 10/5. *Top-masters report a fair trade during the week at satisfactory prices.

498 1909.  Edin. Rev., Oct., 284. He was building the largest *tops mill in the United States.

499 1637.  Bury Wills (Camden), 169. A great deale of *topworke abroad at spynners.

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