On top of vs on bottom of

Why is it ok to say, "on top of the table", but not "on bottom of the table?" Is it ok? Was it ever considered ok?

Edit: To clarify, I'm asking about the missing "the", not about the fact that tables can hold things up better if the objects are on top of them...

Solution 1:

I think it’s due to “top” being used two ways.

“On top of” isn’t the analogous to “at the bottom of”. The analogue is “under”.

The spoon is on top of the table. The mat is under the table.

Those words refer to objects located outside the referenced item (table). “On top of” and “below” are both markers of relative position. In the case of “top”, it isn’t really referencing the highest portion of the table - it is talking about something higher than the whole table.

The analogue to “at the bottom of” is “at the top of”. These reference things in the same position as “the top” or “the bottom” of something. For example:

The title is at the top of the list. The ball is at the bottom of the well.

Here, “the” identifies a specific part of the item, and “top” and “bottom” are both parts of the respective objects.