Stope (?), n. [Cf. Step, n. & v. i.] (Mining) A horizontal working
forming one of a series, the working faces of which present the
appearance of a flight of steps.
Stope, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stoped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stoping.]
(Mining) (a) To excavate in the form of stopes. (b) To fill in with
rubbish, as a space from which the ore has been worked out.
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{ Stope (?), Sto"pen (?) }, p. p. of Step. Stepped; gone; advanced.
[Obs.]
A poor widow, somedeal stope in age.
Chaucer.
Stop"-gap` (?), n. That which closes or fills up an opening or gap;
hence, a temporary expedient.
Moral prejudices are the stop-gaps of virtue.
Hare.
Stop"ing (?), n. (Mining) The act of excavating in the form of stopes.
Stop"less (?), a. Not to be stopped. Davenant.
Stop"-o`ver (?), a. Permitting one to stop over; as, a stop-over check
or ticket. See To stop over, under Stop, v. i. [Railroad Cant, U.S.]
Stop"page (?), n. The act of stopping, or arresting progress, motion,
or action; also, the state of being stopped; as, the stoppage of the
circulation of the blood; the stoppage of commerce.
Stopped (?), a. (Phonetics) Made by complete closure of the mouth
organs; shut; -- said of certain consonants (p, b, t, d, etc.). H.
Sweet.
Stop"per (?), n. 1. One who stops, closes, shuts, or hinders; that
which stops or obstructs; that which closes or fills a vent or hole in
a vessel.
2. (Naut.) A short piece of rope having a knot at one or both ends,
with a lanyard under the knot, -- used to secure something. Totten.
3. (Bot.) A name to several trees of the genus Eugenia, found in
Florida and the West Indies; as, the red stopper. See Eugenia. C. S.
Sargent.
Ring stopper (Naut.), a short rope or chain passing through the anchor
ring, to secure the anchor to the cathead. -- Stopper bolt (Naut.), a
large ringbolt in a ship's deck, to which the deck stoppers are hooked.
Stop"per, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stoppered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Stoppering.] To close or secure with a stopper.
Stop"ping (?), n. 1. Material for filling a cavity.