† ˈdrop-meal, adv. Obs.
[OE. drop-mǽlum, f. drop n.: see -meal.]
In drops, drop by drop.
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. I. 508 Yrnþ dropmælum swiðe hluttor wæter. a 1225 Ancr. R. 282 In hire he heldeð nout one dropemele, auh ȝeoteð vlowinde wellen of his grace. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xi. vii. (1495) 393 Rayne fallyth..thenne and thenne and dropmele. 1647 Trapp Comm. Acts xii. 8 As the cloud dissolves drop-meal upon the earth. |
b. Often with by: = prec. Hence as n.
| 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 1 These good things that are as by dropmeale poured into vs from heauen. 1577 Harrison England iii. viii. (1878) ii. 58 To them that make their water by dropmeales. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 40 Physicians vse to instill the juice of the Radish by drop-meale into the eares. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 440 Which..cannot void his water but by drops-meal. |