Round 3601: MELDROP Results 🤧

[Daniel B. Widdis]

The word meldrop traces back to Old Norse mél-dropi: from mél (snaffle bit) and dropi (drop). Its earliest sense referred to the froth produced by a bit in a working horse’s mouth. From there, the idea of a hanging or pendulous “drop” broadened, and the word eventually passed into Scots and northern English dialects.

Meldrop appears in several established English dictionaries, though not always in quite the same form. The English Dialect Dictionary defines it as: "A drop of mucus at the nose, whether produced by cold or otherwise.” Wiktionary's phrasing is simpler: "A drop of mucus in, or coming out of, the nose." Collins lists it with even more brevity (as a word under evaluation) as "A drop of mucus at the end of the nose." OED lists two definitions, "A drop of mucus at the nose; also, the foam which falls from a horse's mouth" and "A dew drop", summarized succinctly in the 1934 Merriam-Webster Unabridged wording: “A pendent drop, as of mucus at the nose, or of dew.”

None of those dictionary definitions appeared verbatim on this round’s ballot, but unlike the frequent comment that "you forgot to include the real definition," the omission was intentional under the allowed exception in Real Rules 3b: “Except where the dictionary definition is combined with a submitted one, the dealer should refrain from changing the way it is worded.” Such was the case with Definition #8, submitted by John Barrs, which fell neatly between the broader and narrower dictionary wordings, and I elected to leave his submission unaltered in combination (the opposite choice from the one I took in a similar situation in Round 2671).

The next deal and a box of tissues drop to Efrem Mallach, who collected 3 votes for his theatrical prop and was one of two players to sniff out the snot. Runner up honors and a clean handkerchief go to Paul Keating, who also voted for John's on-the-nose fake.

1. A hybrid species, Hyacinthoides × massartiana, produced by crosses between the common British bluebell, H. non-scripta, and the Spanish bluebell, H. hispanica.
   Submitted by: Tim Bourne, who voted for 10 & 12 and scored 3
   Votes from: Shani Naylor, Tony Abell, John Barrs

2. A bite‑sized confection of chocolate and marshmallow, traditionally set in clusters and served as a sweet snack.
   Submitted by: Judy Madnick, who voted for 7 & 10 and scored 1
   Votes from: Glenn Davis

3. A section of wall or a pillar between two openings, especially a pillar dividing a large doorway in a church.
   Submitted by: Tim Lodge, who voted for 6 & 9 and scored 3
   Votes from: Eric Boxer, Mike Shefler, Nancy Shepherdson

4. A person who spoils a plan or project by meddling, even if their intentions are good.
   Submitted by: Shani Naylor, who voted for 1 & 11 and scored 3
   Votes from: Paul Keating, Debbie Embler, Nancy Shepherdson

5. To drop a glass or plate on the floor.
   Submitted by: Tony Abell, who voted for 1 & 11 and scored 0
   No votes

6. A fish roe cake.
   Submitted by: Paul Keating, who voted for 4 & 8 and scored 2 + 2 = 4
   Votes from: Tim Lodge, Glenn Davis

7. A globule of molten sugar.
   Submitted by: Eric Boxer, who voted for 3 & 12 and scored 1
   Votes from: Judy Madnick

8. The drop of mucus that forms on the end of the nose in cold weather.
   Submitted by: John Barrs, who voted for 1 & 11 and scored 2

   Also the real definition
   Votes from: Efrem Mallach, Paul Keating

9. A recompence, compensation, or atonement for injury done to persons in holy orders.
   Submitted by: Debbie Embler, who voted for 4 & 10 and scored 2
   Votes from: Tim Lodge, Efrem Mallach

10. A unit of refractive index variation, named after Austrian physicist Franz Meldrop (1839-1891).
   Submitted by: Glenn Davis, who voted for 2 & 6 and scored 3
   Votes from: Tim Bourne, Judy Madnick, Debbie Embler

11. A rare, epiphytic orchid (Dracula simia) native to the high-altitude cloud forests of the Andes.
   Submitted by: Mike Shefler, who voted for 3 & 12 and scored 3
   Votes from: Shani Naylor, Tony Abell, John Barrs

12. A brace that supports theatrical scenery walls and facades, hinged at the top to facilitate rapid set changes.
   Submitted by: Efrem Mallach, who voted for 8 & 9 and scored 3 + 2 = 5
   Votes from: Tim Bourne, Eric Boxer, Mike Shefler

No def from Nancy Shepherdson, who voted for 3 & 4

Def Submitter           Votes Guess Total
 12 Efrem Mallach           3     2     5
  6 Paul Keating            2     2     4
  1 Tim Bourne              3           3
  3 Tim Lodge               3           3
 11 Mike Shefler            3           3
 10 Glenn Davis             3           3
  4 Shani Naylor            3           3
  9 Debbie Embler           2           2
  8 John Barrs (Real def)   2           2
  7 Eric Boxer              1           1
  2 Judy Madnick            1           1
    Nancy Shepherdson       0           0
  5 Tony Abell              0           0