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.]
I. A tuft, crest, or bush of hair, etc.
1. The hair on the summit or crown of the head; the hair of the head. Obs. exc. Sc.
Foreward top = FORETOP. To take († hent, † nim) by the top, to seize by the hair, lay hold of violently (also fig.).
c. 1205. Lay., 684. Bi þone toppe [c. 1275 bi þe coppe] he hine nome Al swa he hine walde of-slean.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5619. He … hente þis lof bi þe top, & fram þe bord him drou.
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.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 496/2. Top, or fortop (K., P. top of the hed), aqualium.
1535. Coverdale, Bel & Dr., 36. Then the angel … toke him by the toppe, and bare him by the hayre of the heade.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 39. Let’s take the instant by the forward top: For we are old.
a. 1643. Cartwright, Ordinary, II. ii. This white top writeth my much years.
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!’ |
b. The crest or ‘topping’ of a bird; the forelock of a horse, etc. Now Sc. and north. dial.
a. 1225. St. Marher., 12. And toc him [the dragon] bi þe ateliche top.
13[?]. K. Alis., 5186 (Bodl. MS.). Ypotame a wonder beest…; Toppe, & rugge, & croupe, & cors, Is semblabel to an hors.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 837. The Golk … Tit the Tuchet be the tope, ourtirvit his hed.
1578. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1903), 296. vid for iii hearons toppes which were burnte with Torches.
1585. Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 43. Euen so, had Nature,… Giuen her [the phœnix] ane tap, for to augment her grace.
1650. Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 353. We deck ourselves with birds feathers, the tops of herons.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, Jrnl., iii. (1884), 66. The horses have … a large top betwixt their ears.
1808–25. Jamieson, Tap … 3. The tuft on the head of some fowls. Hence the phrase, tappit hen.
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).]
To tak one’s tap in one’s lap: see quot. 1825.
[But some refer this sense to TOP sb.2, as having reference to the shape; cf. quot. 1891 in 34.]
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 428. Ne rouhte þe þeyh flockes were Imeynd bi toppes & bi here.
c. 1325. Gloss. W. de Bibbesw., in Wright, Voc., 144. E serencez du lyn le toup [gloss] hekele, a top of flax.
14[?]. Nom., in Wr.-Wülcker, 696/3. Hoc lapsum, a top of lin.
1558. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 25. Into vi nighte cappes & toppes of turkes headdes peces.
1681. Colvil, Whigs Supplic., 258. A Top of Lint for his Panash.
1794. Burns, Weary Pund o’ Tow, iv. Gae spin your tap o’ tow!
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?’
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.
1894. Northumbld. Gloss., Top, in spinning, the quantity of flax put on the ‘rock’ at a time.
b. spec. A bundle of combed wool prepared for spinning. Chiefly pl. (also collect. sing.).
1637. Bury Wills (Camden), 169. I owe John Brightall for combeing of ten skore poundes and ten of tops.
1759. Overseers’ Acc., Holy Cross, Canterb. To 1 Top of wool for worsted deliver’d to Mrs. Hawley … 0. 2. 0.
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.
1882. Worc. Exhib. Catal., III. 31. Combing process, separating long wool from short, the long wool being then called combed tops.
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.
II. The highest or uppermost part.
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.
To swim at the top (fig.), to maintain a high social position.
c. 1000. Ælfric’s Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 143/26. Apex, summitas galcæ, helmes top.
c. 1205. Lay., 1339. He hihte hondlien kablen Teon seiles to toppa [c. 1275 toppe].
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1422. Vp to þe toppe from þe more.
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.
13[?]. K. Alis., 1417 (Bodl. MS.). Hii drawen sayl to top of mast.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2110. Þan vp he clame to a cliffe … Þare fand he tildid on þe top & tild vp a cite.
1459. Paston Lett., I. 488. Pottis of sylver,… enamelyd on the toppys withe hys armys.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 54 b. Reaching from Thuringe … vnto the toppe of the Alpes.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 215 (1810), 223. Trees … no taller than a man may touch to top with his hand.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 74. The Door is made … with an opening at the Top.
1691. Hartcliffe, Virtues, 229. This Sentence should be writ on our Houses Tops.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 549. From Sinai’s top Jehovah gave the law.
1825. Scott, Talism., i. The flat top of his cumbrous cylindrical helmet was unadorned with any crest.
1873. J. Richards, Wood-working Factories, 116. Everything about the top of a bench must be strong and simple.
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.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. ii. 107. They vse to writ it on the top of Letters.
1681. S. Fell, in Jrnl. Friends’ Hist. Soc., July (1912), 136. You may see at the Topp of every leafe, which Meetings testimonies followes.
1817. Parl. Deb., 430. Lord Cochrane … knew persons in office had frequently procured signatures to petitions without a top.
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.’
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.
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.
1782. Mrs. Cowley, Which is the Man, V. ii. Coming down from the Top [of the room], addressing the Company.
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.
1849. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett. (1883), II. 41. In the omnibus to the top of Sloane Street.
1906. Alice Werner, Natives Brit. Cent. Africa, xii. 282. They … went on to the north, and round the top of the lake.
4. The uppermost division of the body; the head; esp. the crown of the head. Chiefly, now only, in alliterative expressions: see 24, 25.
a. 1225. Juliana, 59. Ouer al & from þe top to þe tan.
1303, c. 1330. [see 24, 24 d].
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 229. Tyd by top & bi to, þay token hym synne.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 752*. And toton owt of hys top als tyndis of hornes.
a. 1500[?]. Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.), II. 176. Thou take hym by þe toppe and I by þe tayle.
a. 1500[?]. Debate Carpenters Tools, 188, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 86. Methinke gode ale is in ȝour tope.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., IV. ii. 354. Soft hoa, what truncke is heere? Without his top?
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.
b. The uppermost branch of a deer’s horn: esp. in phr. on (upon) top.
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.
1801. in C. P. Collyns, Notes Chase Wild Red Deer (1862), App. 211. The remaining horn had three on top with all his rights.
1885. Wellington (Som.) Weekly News, 19 Aug. A large, heavy deer, with two upon top on each side.
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.
[1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 22. Pieres … bad me toten on þe tree on toppe and on rote.]
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 28. Thanne he taketh the barley or otes by the toppes.
1552. Huloet, Toppe of an herbe, capillamentum.
1639. O. Wood, Alph. Bk. Secrets, 10. Then take the young tops of Rosemary, Marigolds [etc.].
1725. Watts, Logic, I. vi. § 3. If the buds are made our food, they are called heads, or tops.
1766. Complete Farmer, s.v. Radish, 6 I 1/1. They will run up in tops, and not increase in their roots.
1844. H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, II. 5. Tops of turnips make good feeding at the beginning of the season.
18[?]. U. S. Dispensatory (ed. 14), 827 (Cent. Dict.). The fruits and tops of juniper are the only officinal parts.
6. pl. (also collect. sing.). The smaller branches and twigs of trees as distinct from the timber.
Often with lop, as top(s and lop(s, lop(s and top(s, lop(s, top(s, and bark (or crop(s).
1485–6. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 98. Rec. xvjs. pro corticibus et Toppys in silva de Rylley.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 154. If thou haue any woode to selle … sell the toppes as they lye.
1669, etc. [see LOP sb.2 1].
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, s.v. Lop, In a sale of standing timber trees they are advertised with their ‘lop, top, and bark.’
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.
1538. Elyot, Sagitta, an arow, also the top of a twygge or rodde.
1573–80. Baret, Alv., T 290. The sharpnesse of the top, or tippe of the nose…. The tops, or tips of the fingers.
1754. Shebbeare, Matrimony (1766), I. 76. My Lord stept off lightly, on the Tops of his Toes.
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.
1866. Chambers’ Encycl., VIII. 684/2. Top-and-butt.
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. BOTTON sb. 8 a. e. Mining. See quot.
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.
b. 1706. Swift, Baucis & Philemon, 58. The kettle to the top was hoist, And there stood fasten’d to a joist.
1830. T. Wilson, Pitman’s Pay (1843), 13. For if maw ‘top’ comes badly down.
1844. F. W. Simms, Pract. Tunnelling, ix. 83. This stage of progress, which is technically called ‘getting in the top’ [of a tunnel].
1889. N. W. Linc. Gloss., Top, the ceiling, as ‘th’ room top,’ ‘th’ kitchen top.’
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.
c. 1765. Univ. Mag., XXXVII. 371/2. The biskets called tops and bottoms, or rusks.
1866. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 55. Some nice tops-and-bottoms for its supper.
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.
e. 1894. Northumbld. Gloss., Top, the blue flame above a candle or lamp…, whose appearance indicates the presence of fire-damp in the mine.
III. A piece or part placed upon or fitted to anything, and forming its upper part or covering.
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.
c. 1420. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 342. A shyp with a toppe & seyle was hys crest.
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.
1561. Eden, Arte Navig., I. vii. 9. If you stande in the toppe of the shyppe.
1697. Dampier, Voy. round World (1699), 208. We saw the light in the Admirals top, which continued about half an hour.
1764. Veitch, in Phil. Trans., LIV. 291. The top, or round scaffolding on the mast … in this ship it was 18 feet broad.
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.
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.
b. Naut. Short for topsail: see quots.
† 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.
1513–42. Hist. Sir W. Wallace, x. (1881), 54. All the shipis … pulling down ther topis, did obeysance vnto the read Lyon.
a. 1600. Hooker, Serm. Justif., § 28. Let the Pope take downe his top and captiuate no more mens soules.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. lxiv. (1737), 264. A fresh gale … began to fill the … Tops, and Top-gallants.
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.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 71 b. Theyr heads, with theyr top and top gallant Lawne-baby caps.
1594. Peele, Battle of Alcazar, III. iii. He cometh hitherward amain, Top and top-gallant, all in brave array.
1607. Merry Devil Edmonton, I. i. 34. Heele be here top and top-gallant presently.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 646. I have seen … one Rose grow out of another, like Honey-suckle, that they call Top and Top-Gallants.
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.
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.
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.
1629. Disc. Leather, 13. The manner of cutting Bootes out with huge, slouenly, vnmannerly, and immoderate tops.
1683. Lond. Gaz., No. 1869/4. A pair of Boots without Tops.
1835. Sir G. Stephen, Adv. Search Horse, xv. 193. Boots, that once had tops, approach within six inches of the knee.
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.
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.
1904. Blackw. Mag., Nov., 675/2. They had red waistcoats, white breeches, white tops, black velvet caps and white gloves.
b. The gauntlet part of a glove; the turned-down top part of men’s hose.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, ii. A pair of gauntlets,… the tops of which reached up to his elbow.
1906. in Daily Chron., 20 Aug., 3/3. The Highland regiments introduced complications with five different tartans, and three different patterns of hose-tops.
11. In various technical applications:
† 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.
a. 1453. Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 162. Pro faccione ij torchearum novarum et pro ij toppes magn. torch.
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.
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.
c. 1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3942/4. Stolen…, a pair of Diamond Ear-Rings, with 4 large Faucet Diamonds (Tops and Drops).
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.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Sutherl., I. 79. In her ears hung pendant diamonds, top and drop.
d. 1780. Mrs. Delany, in Life & Corr. Ser. II. (1862), II. 524. Rows upon rows of fine ladies with towering tops.
e. 1844. Stephens, Bk. Farm, III. 1087. The common cart … mounted with a framing called tops, is used in some parts of the country.
f. 1845. Statist. Acc. Scot., VI. 147. In 1815 Mr. Smith constructed a carding-engine, having the flats or tops moveable on hinges.
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.
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?
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.
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.
h. 1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 54. The top of the Coaches is made with round hoopes.
1884–1898. [implied in top-buggy, -phaeton, -wagon: see 26].
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.
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.
12. Short for top-button: see 32.
1852. W. Hutton, in Househ. Words, V. 108/1. The long coats of our grandfathers, covered with half a gross of high-tops.
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.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., 416/1. When the face only is gilt, the buttons are technically known as tops.
IV. fig. and transf. The part of anything which has the first place in time, order, or precedence.
13. Of time: The earliest part of a period; the beginning.
For the top of the morning, as a greeting, see 17.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., III. 1000. In thende of Octob’r, or in the toppe [orig. inicio] Of Novemb’r.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 98. A mellifluous Army of Bees, from the top of the morning, till the cool and dark evening.
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.
14. The highest, chief, or leading position, place, or rank; the head, forefront; now esp. in the top of the tree (fig.).
1627. Hakewill, Apol., Pref. 5. By vertue … being come to the top, they lost it againe by vice.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, II. 143. We who are placed in the top of nature.
1699. Locke, Educ. (ed. 4), § 70. 104. Take a Boy from the top of a Grammar-School.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, IV. x. I thought to have seen him at the top of the tree, as one may say!
1879. B. Taylor, Stud. Germ. Lit., 136. The medieval passion for song began at the top and worked downwards.
1885. W. S. Gilbert, Mikado, I. I’m right at the top of the school.
1908. Times, 3 Aug., 11/6. Brilliancy and determination … brought them to the top of the tree.
b. One who or that which occupies the highest or chief position; the head (of a clan, family, etc.).
1612. Day, Festivals, ii. (1615), 27. Adam the Top of our Kin.
1646. J. Gregory, Notes & Obs. (1650), 30. Muazzus the Toppe of the Fatimæan family, caused the City of Gran Cairo to be set up.
1695. J. Edwards, Perfect. Script., 332. Lastly man, the top and glory of the creatures.
1741. Betterton, Eng. Stage, vi. 116. He looks upon himself as the Top of his Family.
1856. Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., xxxviii. They barred out the master to make ‘the head usher’ top of the school.
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.
1552. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. xvi. 294. What thyng at the first can atteyne to the toppe of perfectnesse.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. ii. 383. From my lowest Note, to the top of my Compasse.
1602–1875. [see BENT sb.2 9].
1671. Milton, Samson, 167. By how much from the top of wondrous glory,… To lowest pitch of abject fortune thou art fall’n.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 32, ¶ 2. High Shoulders, as well as high Noses, were the Top of the Fashion.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 195. Let him be kept to the Top of his Speed.
1881. Besant & Rice, Chapl. of Fleet, I. iv. All the drivers were swearing at each other at the top of their voices.
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.)
1593. Q. Eliz., Boeth., 80. All such referd to greatest good, as to the top of Natures best.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 570. His goodnesse, bountie, grace, and fauour towardes vs, which is the toppe of happinesse.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., II. ii. 76. If he, which is the top of Iudgement, should But iudge you, as you are.
1682. Dryden, Mac Fl., 167. But write thy best and top; and in each line Sir Formal’s oratory will be thine.
1711. G. Hickes, Two Treat. Chr. Priesth. (1847), II. 297. The episcopate is the top of all the honours among men.
1885–6. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. cxxx. 8. Redemption is the top of covenant blessings.
c. (absol. use of top as adj.: see 27–30). Motoring slang. The top or highest gear; usually on (the) top.
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.
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.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1850), I. 341. Grevous to the people, now in top of harvest.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. 299. It was just at the Top of High-Water when these People came on Shore.
1759. Dilworth, Pope, 131. The hackney scribblers seizing the top of the market, had quite run down the subject.
1801. Naval Chron., VI. 76. At the top of the tide she turned off the stocks.
1899. Macmanus, Chimney Corners, 168. They’ll insure me the top of the market.
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).
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.
1668. Bp. Hopkins, Serm., Vanity (1685), 99. The soul, next to angels, is the very top and cream of the whole creation.
1752. W. Thompson, R. N. Advoc., 44. Which their … Friends, the top of the Physical Faculty can verify.
1815. Scott, Guy M., iv. The top of the morning to you, sir.
1843. Lever, J. Hinton, lviii. Captain, my darling, the top of the morning to you!
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.
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.).
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.
1886. C. Scott, Sheep-Farming, 19. When a lot of sheep are drafted, they are assorted. The best lot are called ‘tops.’
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.
1906. J. Patterson, Wamphray, vii. 193. It threshes, separates ‘tops from tails,’ bags each separately, and bundles the straw.
V. Applied to actions.
18. The action of TOP v.1; the putting of a top on something; top-up, a finish or conclusion. rare.
1882. [Lees & Clutterbuck], Three in Norway, 146. He thought this a grand top-up for a successful day.
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.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 13 Aug., 2/3. A vertical twist given by friction against the ground analogous with ‘top’ on a billiard ball.
1903. H. G. Hutchinson, Cricket, iv. 88. A ball … which … is simply propelled with a large quantity of ‘top on.’
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.’
† 20. Dice-play. A cheating trick in which one of the dice was retained at the top of the box.
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.
1711. Puckle, Club, 22, note. Supposing both box and dice fair, gamesters have the top, the peep, eclipse, thumbing.
VI. Phrases.
21. At, on top: see prec. senses and quots.; fig. supreme; dominant; († in), on, upon (the) top of, above, upon, close upon, following upon.
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.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 394. Hee was vpon the top of his marriage.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, II. 125. With this inscription, at top.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, II. 62. One thing heaped o’top of t’other.
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.’
1886. St. Stephen’s Rev., 13 March, 11/2. Two heavy falls in a week, and a bad cold on the top of them.
1898. N. Gould, Landed at Last, iv. This year I fancy I shall be on top with my pair of brothers.
1903. Farmer & Henley, Slang, s.v., To come out on top, to be successful.
1911. Marett, Anthropol., ii. 43. On top of the Wealden dome.
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.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. ccxxiii. 249. He … suffered for a season, leste he hadde brought all in his toppe atones.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 137. Euery man is in my toppe [ominibus sum infestus].
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 125 b. To styre vp cruell warres, and set one in an others toppe.
1570. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 8. Strait wais M. Nevil was on mi top.
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.
1680. Archd. Aleson, in Cloud of Witnesses (1810), 46. Ye have Kirk and State upon your top.
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?
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.
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.
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).
[a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1328. Of clerkes lore top ne more [= root]. Ibid., 1422 [see 3].]
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. (1651), 245. Turned … top to bottom, or bottom to top.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 10 June. The management … was bad from top to bottom.
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.’
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.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5416. Þarfor shul þey … Go to helle, both top and tayle.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 371 (Fairf. MS.). Toppe and taylle and euery del … euery word that spoken ys.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxi. 193. Tell hyme fro toppe vnto tayle.
1550. Bale, Apol., 106 b. It is in the whole, toppe and iayle, length and bredth, begynnynge and endynge.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, v. N j b. Headlong down in dust he ouerturnyd tayle and topp.
1727. P. Walker, Remark. Passages (1827), 212. His Sermon had neither Top, Tail, nor Mane.
1822. Carlyle, Early Lett. (1886), II. 32. They will … make neither ‘top, tail, nor root out of it.’
1874. T. Hardy, Far fr. Madding Crowd, lvi. The top and tail o’t is this.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v., The pony put his foot in a rabbit’s hole and proper turned top-on-tail.
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.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 70. Into þe waise þam fro he tombled top ouer taile.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 16727. He bar him tayl ouer top, That he lay ther as a sop.
1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 3744. Bot this fals world is turnit top ouir taill.
1786. Pogonologia, 6. The Culbute (the flying-top-over-tail hoop).
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d, 200. Cam tumblin’ tap-owr-tail.
1881. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Top o’er tail, head over heels—completely over.
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.
[a. 1225. Juliana, 59. Ouer al & from þe top to þe tan.]
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxiii. (Sleperis), 121. Malchus … tald þame fra tope to ta Quhow decius þame socht to sla.
c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 615, in Macro Plays, 95. I holde þee trewe ffro top to þe too.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 241 b. Thou art made abhominable from the toppe of [? to] the too.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, Prol. B ij. I … reuisying from top to too the sayde booke.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 267. After this follow fifteene other most faire Camels,… couered from top to toe with Silke.
1718. Mrs. Delany, in Life & Corr. (1861), I. 45. Top-a-Toe, my dear Niece, Your most affectionate, Faithful, humble servant, Lansdowne.
1887. Lowell, Democr., 87. English from top to toe.
† b. Neither top nor toe, no part or vestige; = top nor tail (see 24 b). Obs. rare–1.
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.
VII. Combinations and collocations.
* attrib. uses, passing into adjective in 27–30.
26. Having a top, fitted with a top, as top-buggy, -phaeton, -stocking, -wagon; top-ship (see 33).
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.
1686. Lond. Gaz., No. 2126/4. Light-coloured *Top-Stockings striped with black.
1884. Roe, Nat. Ser. Story, x. He hastened to harness Thunder to his light *top-wagon. (See also TOP-BOOT.)
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.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., V. ii. 14. Whose top-branch ouerpeer’d Ioues spreading Tree.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 225. Nero … got first of all to the top-turret of all this enormity.
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.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. lxxvii. (1674), 99. If they fall to cut down the top-boughs.
1676. Moxon, Print. Lett., 6. The Top-line is the line that bounds the top of the Ascending Letters.
1707. Mortimer, Husb. (1721), II. 139. An Herb whose top Leaves are a Sallet of themselves.
1769. Mrs. Raffald, Eng. Housekpr. (1778), 91. It is proper for a top dish at night, or a side dish for dinner.
1805. R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., I. 34. Advantages in carrying top-loads.
1827. Steuart, Planter’s G. (1828), 328. The topshoots of the former year will inevitably be cut down.
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., I. vii. A five pound fish … had snapped off the top-joint of his four guinea rod.
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.
1865. Sat. Rev., 21 Jan., 80/2. The want of protection of the top-shifts against fire.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 1465/2. A crowning molding is a top member.
1888. Honnor Morten, Sk. Hosp. Life, 46. There were two doors on the top landing.
1904. J. Sweeney, At Scotl. Yard, v. 110. The carriages … passed … along the top side, passing out at the left hand top corner.
1906. Athenæum, 15 Dec., 777/3. A top stop was equivalent to a stop … in the upper focal plane of the objective.
Mod. The top end of the tube is sealed.
28. Forming or constituting the top, or the exterior surface or layer; upper, outer.
Now usually separate, as in prec. sense.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xii. (1632), 275. A light stroke that dooth scarce the top-skin wound.
1634–5. Brereton, Trav. (Chetham), 96. They cutt and flea top-turves with linge upon them.
1707. Mortimer, Husb. (1721), II. 384. Take away some of the Top exhausted Earth.
1838. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 97/2. Walls of rubble,… which support a top covering of flat stones.
1868. Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869), 169. Mild loamy top soil, with a subsoil more tough.
1874. Crookes, Dyeing & Calico-Print., 526. Putting a top bloom on blacks.
1879. B. Taylor, Stud. Germ. Lit., 38. Hollow spaces cut in the top-slab of his tombstone.
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.
1891. Daily News, 11 July, 5/4. Top milk and bottom milk have been proved to be practically the same.
1904. Archæol. Æliana, XXV. II. 253. A foot-and-a-half of blackish top-soil.
1912. Nation, 10 Feb., 779/2. Good farming increases the humus or productive ‘top spit’ of the land.
29. First in rank, order, or quality; principal, chief, most eminent, best.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. vi. 22. Bishops, who are now … the very top-flowers of wisdom and learning.
1649. Roberts, Clavis Bibl., 292. The flourishing or Top-glory of Israels Kingdome under K. Solomon.
1657. Austen, Fruit Trees, II. 45. This is the top priviledg of beleivers.
1697. Collier, Immor. Stage, iv. (1698), 242. These Sparks generally marry the Top-ladies.
1712. E. Cooke, Voy. S. Sea, 73. The Top Nation of all that Part of the World for Bravery.
1713. Steele, Englishman, No. 40. 261. When they grow up, Dancing is the top Accomplishment.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Physiognomy, The top modern authors on physiognomy.
1733. Swift, Lett. to Pope, 2 April. They are certainly the top wits of the Court.
1750. R. Pococke, Trav. (Camden), I. 50. One of their top merchants.
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.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 291. Regarded as the top gentry of the place.
1819. Keats, Lett. (in Daily Chron., 26 March (1904), 9/2). Fine writing is, next to fine doings, the top thing in the world.
30. Highest (in degree), greatest (in amount); very high, very great; also in weakened sense, first-rate, tip-top, excellent.
1714. G. Lockhart, Mem. Scot., 229. Obliged to go off at a top Gallop.
1736. Duchess Portland, in Mrs. Delany’s Life & Corr. (1861), I. 563. The Speaker was in top good humour.
1769. Lady M. Coke, Jrnl., 6 Aug. The Duchess … said she was in a top sweat.
a. 1774. Fergusson, Caller Oysters, xi. The fisher-wives will get top livin.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life, XVIII. xii. His common trot is just a match for your top speed.
1872. Michie, Deeside Tales, v. 49. He reached the house ‘in a top sweat.’
1894. Lit. World, 13 April, 341/2. One [who] commands ‘top prices’ for serial rights.
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.
1902. Daily Chron., 20 Dec., 7/5. Half a dozen hounds went at top pace towards Tugby.
** Locative, etc., combinations.
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.
1860. Worcester, *Top-draining, the act or the practice of draining the surface of land.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XVI. 219. From a coffer … *top-fild with vests; warme robes to checke cold wind.
1691. trans. Emilianne’s Observ. Journ. Naples, 104. The Treasuries of their Churches are top fill’d with these kind of precious Relicks.
1910. Daily Chron., 12 Jan., 5/7. One with perfect nailing, beautifully executed, *top-ironed, and with exquisitely finished edging.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. iii. There, *topladen,… rolls in the country Baron and his household.
1887. Pall Mall G., 28 June, 6/1. On each side of the hall are aisles, *top-lighted.
1905. Daily Chron., 17 May, 8/5. Private offices are ananged along the back and top-lighted.
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.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 343. Ringing … may often serve as a substitute both for root pruning and *top pruning.
1612. N. Field, Woman a Weathercock, III. ii. E iv. Oh good old woman, she is *topshackeld.
1632. Lithgow, Trav. (1906), 346. Like to a halfe ballast ship tottering on *top-tempestuous waves.
1903. Westm. Gaz., 5 July, 2/3. Black crowns Of wind-worn pines … *top-turned by gales that weighed Them eastward.
*** Special combinations and collocations.
32. In general senses of top.
(When top is adjectival, properly without hyphen.)
Top-beam = COLLAR-BEAN 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.
1679. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., viii. 147. *Top-beam.
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.
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.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Top-block,… a projecting piece on which the bows of a carriage rest when down.
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.
1574. in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 243. *Topp Buttons and frenge Lace.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, ii. 34. The mainmast, from the deck to the top-button, measured 115 feet.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., 470/1. These slats are called card-tops, *top-cards, or top-flats.
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.
1803. Plymley, Agric. Shropsh., 56. *Top-coal.
1841. Hartshorne, Salop. Antiq., Gloss.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., 90.
1819. *Top-coat [implied in top-coated].
1821. Blackw. Mag., Jan., 406/2. He had twa tap-coats and a plaid on.
1858. Ramsay, Remin., vi. (1870), 235. [He] offered the beggar an old top-coat.
1819. R. Anderson, Cumberld. Ball., 63. *Top-cwoatet squire.
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.
1889. Daily News, 29 June, 6/3. He foresees a corresponding depression in what he calls ‘the *top crops.’
1895. G. Huntington, in Chicago Advance, 19 Dec., 910/3. And it ain’t top-crop rock, anyhow.
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].
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.
1906. P. White, Eight Guests (Tauchn.), I. 66. Marcus had never had a tussle yet without coming out ‘top dog!’
1906. Daily Chron., 26 March, 6/4. I recall … many in which I started as under-dog and came out top-dog.
1905. H. A. Vachell, The Hill, i. Such boys as a rule don’t come out of the *top drawer.
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.
1874. *Top-flats [see top-card].
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.
1903. Q. Rev., Oct., 390. A plantation of top and bottom fruit.
1884. Pae, Eustace, 100. He’s a trim craft as I would not like to damage in the *top-gear.
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.
1897. Bailey, Princ. Fruit-growing, 342. It will probably pay to *top-graft them.
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.
1867. W. W. Smyth, Coal & Coal-mining, 56. Cutting the top-hard coal at 510 yards deep.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal Mining, *Top Heads (S.S.), passages driven in the upper part of the Thick coal for draining off the gas.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 501. That lively heat within the frame, which is usually called *top-heat.
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.
1899. Doyle, Duet, vi. 74. We certainly did ourselves up to the top hole last night.
1908. E. V. Lucas, Over Bemertons, ii. ‘A top-hole idea,’ he called it.
1909. Blackw. Mag., Sept., 409/1. A piece like the Merry Widow … would be top-hole.
1700. Prior, Carmen Seculare, 478. Let all the naval world due homage pay; With hasty reverence their *top-honours lower.
1803. T. Netherton, in Naval Chron., XV. 220. Shipwrights employed in the capstern and *top house.
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.
1877. Kinglake, Crimea, VI. vi. 71. The high … *topland or spine of Mount Inkerman. Ibid., 446. The Inkerman toplands.
1842. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., V. 60/1. The *‘top lift’ was deposited in spoil bank.
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.
1904. Amer. Inventor, 15 April, 184. The *toploader is the man who runs the greatest risks.
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.
1888. N. York Herald (Dixon). The effect of their [locusts’] blighting touch has not yet reached the top notch.
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.
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.
1896. Daily News, 28 Dec., 3/2. Another even more popular ballad (or whatever he calls it), known as ‘Mary Jane’s *Top-note.’
1908. A. Noyes, W. Morris, 54. Never once do we feel that he is exerting himself, or on his top-note.
1884. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 47. The full cap to full plate watches covers the *top plate.
1885. C. G. W. Lock, Workshop Receipts, Ser. IV. 327/1. Push out the pillar pins, and remove the top plate.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. i. 151. This *top-proud fellow … I doe know To be corrupt and treasonous.
1679. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., viii. 147. *Top-rail of the Balcony.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., Gloss., Top rail, the upper rail of a piece of framing or wainscotting.
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.
1562. Phaër, Æneid, IX. D d j. His *topright crest from crown downe battred falles.
1803. Plymley, Agric. Shropsh., 56. *Top-rock 7 yds. 0 ft. 0 in.
a. 1879. in Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., 89. Soil,… Clay,… Loose Rock,… Coal,… Blue Clod,… Red Clunch,… Top Rock,… White Clod,… Brown Clunch.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Bit, The several parts of a snaffle or curb bit are … Trench, *Top-roll, Flap, and Jeive.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1876. Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., x. The sheets and table-cloths we *top-sewed when we were children.
1808. G. Ellis, Lett., in Lockhart, Scott (1837), II. iv. 145. I should have ranked it … on the very *top shelf of English poetry.
1882. Top-shelf [implied in top-shelfer].
1882. Standard, 14 Feb., 2/1. [Fielding’s ‘Tom Jones’] made known to the ingenuous youth as a ‘top-shelf’ book in a library.
1891–2. Lupton Bros. Catal., Dec. and Jan. Gentlemen requiring scarce and top-shelf books.
1905. E. W. Hornung, Thief in Nt. (Tauchn.), 12. ‘Nice house?’ said Raffles…. ‘Top shelf,’ said I.
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.
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.
1860. Worcester, *Top-soiling, the act of taking off the top-soil.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiii. III. 347. From a window in the *top story of one of the loftiest of those gigantic houses.
1903. [Ld. W. Neville], Penal Servitude, 150. [Prisoners] who are more or less touched in the top story.
1904. Daily Chron., 9 May, 8/4. In every top-storey window the machinery can be seen working.
1690. J. Wodrow, in Life (1828), 112. These may be named the *Tap-swarm.
a. 1905. Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., Top, Twea topswarms ’ll mak’ a strang hive.
1856. Aird, Poet. Wks., 404. The unfinished skep For June *top-swarmers.
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.
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 194. A tap-thrawn monk wi’ roundit cap.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., *Top-tool, a blacksmith’s tool … used above the work, being struck by a hammer.
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.
1778. W. Pryce, Min. Cornub., 21. A very large proportion of our Mine Water is temporary; and … is denominated *Top Water.
1894. Northumbld. Gloss., Top-watter, water percolating through the roof of a coal mine.
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.
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.
1486. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 14. A *Top Armyng of say.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Top-armings, hammocks stowed inside the rigging for the protection of riflemen.
1485. Cely Papers (Camden), 184. Item ij ȝerdes di rede … for the *topearmer…. Item an ȝerde of wyght for the same.
1514. Inv. Henri Grace de Dieu, in Oppenheim, Admin. Roy. Navy (1896), I. 377. Top Armours … vii.
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.].
1823. Crabb, Technol. Dict., s.v. Top.
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.
c. 1599. MS. Otho E. ix., in Bree, Cursory Sk. Nav., Mil. & Civ. Estab. (1791), I. 217. For waste cloaths and *top-arms.
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.
1730. Capt. W. Wriglesworth, MS. Log-bk. of the ‘Lyell,’ 30 Nov. Arm‘d the fore Shrouds, Matted the *Top-brims.
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.
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.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 46. The topmen will hand out the *top burtons.
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.
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.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), VI. 1989. The boats were moored with top-chains.
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.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. x. 98. The main top-sail shook so strongly in the wind, that it carried away the *top lanthorn.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Top-lantern, or Top-light, a large signal lantern placed in the after-part of a top.
1485. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 48. Toppe yerdes … j, *Toppe lyftes … ij.
1809. J. Thicknesse, in Naval Chron., XXII. 57. I carried a *top-light.
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, I. 93. The *toplining of topsails is of canvas, No. 6 or 7.
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.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 214. The *top mall, which being made fast to the head of the main-mast, was wash’d ashore.
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.
1352. Acc. Excheq. Q. R., Bundle 20 No. 27 (P. R. O.). Pro quadam clav[o] ferri vocato *toppenaill’ pro eodem mast.
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.
a. 1625. Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301), *Top-Roapes are those Roapes wherewith wee sett or strike the Top-mastes.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 259. At each mast-head the top-ropes others bend.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. iii. 119. Apt to attempt feats … in nautical phrase, ‘to swing on all top-ropes.’
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., ‘Swaying on all top-ropes,’ figuratively, ‘going the whole hog’ in joviality or any trickery.
1868. W. Pengelly, in H. Pengelly, Life, xii. (1897), 188. The veteran … was on the top ropes about the meeting.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxxviii. 30. Thy Ryuer … Where many a ship doth rest with *toppe-royall.
1485. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 48. Toppe lyftes … ij. *Toppe shetes … ij.
1562. Phaër, Æneid, VIII. Z iv. His crowne couragious shines with garland wun from *topshipsnout.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 718. Two and fifty religious structures, as many windmils, and as many toppe Ships in Dunwich.
1485. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 48. Toppe mastes … j, *Toppe shrowdes … vj.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), IV. xcviii. 275. ‘Split my *topstay-sail,’ said he.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), B b iij. To the lower end of the top-rope is fixed the *top-tackle.
1485. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 48. Toppe mastes … j, Toppe shrowdes … vj, *Toppe yerdes … j.
34. In sense 2 b, as top-dyeing, -maker, -making, -master, (tops-)mill; † topwork, wool-combing.
1888. Daily News, 16 April, 2/7. Merino tops are firm in price,… though *top makers are said to have little margin for profit.
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.
1896. Balme & Co. Wool Brokers Circular, 15 May. Long-stapled parcels which … were largely purchased by the Bradford Topmakers.
1884. W. S. B. McLaren, Spinning (ed. 2), 116. Balling or *Top-Making.—One other process follows combing … namely, balling, or making into ‘tops.’
1902. Times, 6 Nov., 10/5. *Top-masters report a fair trade during the week at satisfactory prices.
1909. Edin. Rev., Oct., 284. He was building the largest *tops mill in the United States.
1637. Bury Wills (Camden), 169. A great deale of *topworke abroad at spynners.
