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Dope was a word for sauce (doop), gravy about 200 years ago. About 100 years ago dope referred to a sauce like version of opium. Drugged up horses were beginning to be referred to as being doped. Dope also can mean an oil or lubricant, or a varnish that is painted on the fabric covering an aircraft. Pipe dope is a sealant used on pipe threads. Dope is used to stabilize liquid explosives. Modern usage comes from the widespread use of model airplane glue, which was to be applied only in well-ventilated areas. Breathing the fumes made people "dopey," acting stupid, foolish, and clumsy. The term “dope,” is generally used today to refer to anything that gets people “high,” either pharmaceuticals or the evening news. Dopers, may appear stupefied, confused, muddled, befuddled, disorientated, groggy, or muzzy.
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