What is "drop curtain"

Drop \Drop\ (dr[o^]p), n. [OE. drope, AS. dropa; akin to OS. dropo, D. drop, OHG. tropo, G. tropfen, Icel. dropi, Sw. droppe; and Fr. AS. dre['o]pan to drip, drop; akin to OS. driopan, D. druipen, OHG. triofan, G. triefen, Icel. drj[=u]pa. Cf. Drip, Droop.]

1. The quantity of fluid which falls in one small spherical mass; a liquid globule; a minim; hence, also, the smallest easily measured portion of a fluid; a small quantity; as, a drop of water.

   With minute drops from off the eaves.
   --Milton.

   As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart. -- Shak.

   That drop of peace divine.
   --Keble.

2. That which resembles, or that which hangs like, a liquid drop; as a hanging diamond ornament, an earring, a glass pendant on a chandelier, a sugarplum (sometimes medicated), or a kind of shot or slug.

3. (Arch.)

   1. Same as Gutta.

   2. Any small pendent ornament.

4. Whatever is arranged to drop, hang, or fall from an elevated position; also, a contrivance for lowering something; as:

   1. A door or platform opening downward; a trap door; that part of the gallows on which a culprit stands when he is to be hanged; hence, the gallows itself.

   2. A machine for lowering heavy weights, as packages, coal wagons, etc., to a ship's deck.

   3. A contrivance for temporarily lowering a gas jet.

   4. A curtain which drops or falls in front of the stage of a theater, etc.

   5. A drop press or drop hammer.

   6. (Mach.) The distance of the axis of a shaft below the base of a hanger.

5. pl. Any medicine the dose of which is measured by drops; as, lavender drops.

6. (Naut.) The depth of a square sail; -- generally applied to the courses only.
   --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

7. Act of dropping; sudden fall or descent. Ague drop, Black drop. See under Ague, Black. Drop by drop, in small successive quantities; in repeated portions. ``Made to taste drop by drop more than the bitterness of death.'' --Burke. Drop curtain. See Drop, n., 4. (d) . Drop forging. (Mech.)

   1. A forging made in dies by a drop hammer.

   2. The process of making drop forgings.

      Drop hammer (Mech.), a hammer for forging, striking up metal, etc., the weight being raised by a strap or similar device, and then released to drop on the metal resting on an anvil or die.

      Drop kick (Football), a kick given to the ball as it rebounds after having been dropped from the hands.

      Drop lake, a pigment obtained from Brazil wood.
      --Mollett.

      Drop letter, a letter to be delivered from the same office where posted.

      Drop press (Mech.), a drop hammer; sometimes, a dead-stroke hammer; -- also called drop.

      Drop scene, a drop curtain on which a scene is painted. See Drop, n., 4. (d) .

      Drop seed. (Bot.) See the List under Glass.

      Drop serene. (Med.) See Amaurosis.

n. a curtain that can be lowered and raised onto a stage from the flies; often used as background scenery [syn: drop cloth, drop]