Dropout
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Two words (THREE and FOUR) are joined; then one word (ONE) is dropped out to form another (TWO) from the leftover letters. Example: THREE = reamer, FOUR = itch, ONE = merit, TWO = reach. (This would appear as “rea(mer it)ch”.) Another example: envi(ron, delet)ed.
The enumeration of all four parts must be given.
In a progressive dropout, three or more words or phrases are nested (ONE always innermost) to form two others. Example: ONE = ach, TWO = aviator, THREE = latrine, FOUR = La Traviata, FIVE = chorine. (This would appear as “La Tr[aviat(a, ch)or]ine”.)
The dropout, introduced by Nightowl in 1984, is actually identical to a four-word progressive padlock. But the progressive dropout is unique.