Rupert's drop

noun

A glass bead created by dripping molten glass into cold water so it solidifies into a tadpole shape with a very tough head but a long fragile tail which, if damaged, causes the bead to disintegrate explosively.

Similar
Dutch tearglass tearPrince Rupert's dropPrince Rupert's tearRupert's tear
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Meanings

nounRupert's drop (plural Rupert's drops)

plural Rupert's drops

  1. A glass bead created by dripping molten glass into cold water so it solidifies into a tadpole shape with a very tough head but a long fragile tail which, if damaged, causes the bead to disintegrate explosively.

    Synonyms: Dutch tear, glass tear, Prince Rupert's drop, Prince Rupert's tear, Prince Rupert's tear, Rupert's tear

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA glass bead created by dripping molten glass into cold water so it solidifies into a tadpole shape with a very tough head but a long fragile tail which, if damaged, causes the bead to disintegrate explosively.

Similar
Dutch tearglass tearPrince Rupert's dropPrince Rupert's tearPrince Rupert's tearRupert's tear
Also see
dutch tearglass tearprince rupert dropprince rupert's dropprince rupert's tearrupert's tear

Origin

Named after Prince Rupert of the Rhine, nephew of Charles I, who brought them to England in 1660.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Rupert's drop. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rupert's%20drop

MLA

“Rupert's drop.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rupert's%20drop. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Rupert's drop,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rupert's%20drop.

Source: Rupert's drop on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.