dropbox

English

Alternative forms

• drop box, drop-box

Etymology

Compound of drop +‎ box.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɑp.bɑks/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdɹɒp.bɒks/

Noun

dropbox (plural dropboxes)

1. A box wherein objects can be deposited by one person for later collection by another.
   • 1980, Edwin Silberstang, Playboy's Guide to Casino Gambling, page 363:

     The two smaller slots are for the dropping of cash or markers into the dropbox when players cash these for casino chips.

   • 2021 May 4, Thomas L. Friedman, quoting Kimberly Wehle, “Trump’s Big Lie Devoured the G.O.P. and Now Eyes Our Democracy”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     “The measures include things like enhanced power for poll ‘monitors,’ fewer voting drop-boxes, restrictions on voting by mail, penalties for election officials who fail to purge voters from the rolls, and enhanced power in politicians over election procedures.”

2. (computing) A computer folder to which files may be dragged and dropped and from which users of other computers on the network can access those files.
   • 1997, Alison Balter, Alison Balter's Mastering Access 97 Development, Sams Publishing, →ISBN, page 696:

     A desktop computer leaves changes in a dropbox on the network.

3. (sewing) An enhancement to a loom that allows patterns of multiple colors to be woven from the same loom.
   • 1869, “The Provincial History of England”, in The Spectator, volume 42, page 1528:

     In 1738, John Kay, a native of Bury (though at the time residing in Colchester) invented the fly-shuttle, and in 1760 his son Robert invented the dropbox, by which patterns of various colours are woven nearly with the same facility as plain calico.

Translations

physical box

• French: boîte de dépôt (fr) f, urne (fr) f
• Portuguese: urna (pt) f
• Spanish: buzón (es) m, buzó (es) f pl