1662. Rump Songs, ii., 3. The good the Rump will do, when they
prevail, Is to give us a flop with a fox’s tail, Which nobody can
deny.
Verb. (colloquial).—1. To fall, or flap down suddenly. A variant of
‘flap.’ Fr., prendre un billet de parterre.
1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, bk. iv. ch. v. She had flopped her
hat over her eyes.
1859. Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, bk. ii. ch. i. If you must go
flopping yourself down.
1870. Public Opinion, 12 Feb. But even if they were more numerous
and greater than they are, we should hold aloof from the crowd that
flops in his presence with love and awe, as the dismal wife of
Jerry Cruncher flopped in pious misery.
1883. The Theatre, Feb., p. 93. She is able to call in tumbling to
the aid of tragedy, and bring the plastic arts to the portrayal of
the passions; to flop through four such acts as these night after
night, and finish with a death-scene warranted correct, to the very
last kick and quiver.
1891. Hume Nisbet, Bail Up! p. 118. He cursed under his breath each
time he rose to follow, and smothered a yell of pain and horror
each time he flopped down.