A. adv. On or at the top, above.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 912. Boil them … in an earthen vessel, take off the skim a top.
1779. in Phil. Trans., LXIX. 534. A black mass a-top, and a metallic mass at bottom.
1877. M. Arnold, Sohrab & R., Sel. Poems (1882), 37. From the fluted spine atop, a plume Of horsehair waved.
b. followed by of.
1672. Penn, Spir. Truth, 120. Set atop of Christ, that is, over His Head.
1708. Mrs. Centlivre, Busie Body, IV. ii. You are a-top of the House, and you are down in the Cellar.
1883. W. Sikes, in Harper’s Mag., Feb., 349/1. A round hole in the greensward atop of the cliff.
B. prep. [by omission of of.] On the top of.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., 14. xviii. (1669), 67/1. Float a-top the waves.
1713. Derham, Phys.-Theol., Addr. 6. Sideways, not under or a-top the Spear.
1868. Hawthorne, Amer. Note-Bks. (1879), I. 179. Rushing atop the waves.
