brass n. Colloq. Highest-ranking officers.

- dog n. Colloq. Victor; master.

- drawer n. Colloq. High social position or origin.

- gear n. Highest gear.

- hat n. Tall silk hat.

- secret adj. Of the highest secrecy.

- —n. - highest point or part.

- a highest rank or place. B person occupying this. C upper end or head (top of the table).

- upper surface or part of a thing.

- stopper of a bottle, lid of a jar, etc.

- garment for the upper part of the body.

- utmost degree; height (at the top of his voice).

- (in pl.) Colloq. Person or thing of the best quality.

- (esp. In pl.) Leaves etc. Of a plant grown esp. For its root (turnip-tops).

- naut. Platform round the head of the lower mast. 10 = *top gear (climbed the hill in top). —attrib. Adj. - highest in position.

- highest in degree or importance. —v. (-pp-) 1 provide with a top, cap, etc.

- be higher or better than; surpass; be at the top of (topped the list).

- reach the top of (a hill etc.).

- slang kill.

- golf hit (a ball) above the centre. off the top of one's head see *head. On top in a superior position; above. On top of 1 fully in command of.

- in close proximity to.

- in addition to. On top of the world colloq. Exuberant. Over the top 1 over the parapet of a trench (and into battle).

- beyond what is normally acceptable (that joke was over the top). Top off (or up) put an end or the finishing touch to.

- n. Toy spinning on a point when set in motion. [old english]