Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LOP, v.t. [I know not the affinities of this word, unless it is lob, or the W. llab, a stroke; llabiaw, to slap or strike, or the Eng. flap, or Ir. lubam, to bend. The primary sense is evidently to fall or fell, or to strike down, and I think it connected with flap.]

1. To cut off, as the top or extreme part of any thing; to shorten by cutting off the extremities; as, to lop a tree or its branches. With branches lopp'd in wood, or mountain fell'd. – Milton.
2. To cut off, as exuberances; to separate, as superfluous parts. Expunge the whole, or lop the excrescent parts. – Pope.
3. To cut partly off and bend down; as, to lop the trees or saplings of a hedge.
4. To let fall; to flap; as, a horse lops his ears.