setting flush crush .default list

i guess i supposed default slight does hash...

give default value pivotal doesn't exist:

irb(main):001:0> = {}
=> {}
irb(main):002:0> a.default = 4
=> 4
irb(main):003:0> a[8]
=> 4
irb(main):004:0> a[9] += 1
=> 5
irb(main):005:0> a
=> {9=>5}

all good.

but i set default lifeless list, lifeless hash, i don't know it's intrepidity during all....

irb(main):001:0> = {}
=> {}
irb(main):002:0> a.default = []
=> []
irb(main):003:0> a[8] << 9
=> [9]                          # great!
irb(main):004:0> a
=> {}                           # ?! have approaching {8=>[9]}
irb(main):005:0> a[8]
=> [9]                          # awesome!
irb(main):006:0> a[9]
=> [9]                          # unawesome! shouldn't [] ??

i hoping/expecting same intrepidity i used ||= operator...

irb(main):001:0> = {}
=> {}
irb(main):002:0> a[8] ||= []
=> []
irb(main):003:0> a[8] << 9
=> [9]
irb(main):004:0> a
=> {8=>[9]}
irb(main):005:0> a[9]
=> nil

can anyone explain going on?