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flipper

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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See also: Flipper

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology

From flip +‎ -er. Compare Saterland Frisian Flappert (“flipper, wing”).

Pronunciation

Noun

flipper (plural flippers)

  2. In marine mammals such as whales (or other aquatic animals such as sea turtles), a wide, flat limb adapted for swimming.
  3. A wide, flat, paddle-like rubber covering for the foot, used in swimming.
    Synonym: swim fin
  5. A flat lever in a pinball machine, triggered by the player to strike the ball and keep it in play.
    • 2012 February 24, Rebecca J. Rosen, “The Glory of the Pinball Machine”, in The Atlantic‎:
      Early pinball machines demanded that a player shake the entire table in an effort to guide the ball through the obstacles (pins—hence the name). Later iterations had mechanical flippers like today's, but more of them—six, which were distributed three on each side up and down the body of the machine.
  6. (theater) A small flat used to support a larger one.
    • 1998, Martin Harrison, The Language of Theatre, page 104:
      The flipper is designed to give support by standing at a 90-degree angle to the flat. It probably gets its name from its appearance: cut out like a piece of profile scenery, it resembles the flipper of a marine animal, […]
    • 2013, Jonathan Law, The Methuen Drama Dictionary of the Theatre:
      When standing alone, a flat may have a small extension, a FLIPPER, for added strength.
  7. (cricket) A type of ball bowled by a leg spin bowler, which spins backwards and skids off the pitch with a low bounce.
  8. (informal, US) Television remote control, clicker.
  9. (dated, slang) The hand.
    Synonym: flapper
    • 1888, Hélène E A. Gingold, Denyse, page 222:
      Give me your flipper, old man, and tell me if I can be of any service to you. I'll do what you want at all hazards.
  10. (dentistry) A kind of false tooth, usually temporary.
    • 2005, Washington Appellate Reports, volume 128:
      Dr. Woo attempts to distinguish Blakeslee by pointing out that “one can fondle a breast without having anything to do with dentistry, but one cannot take molds, fabricate and insert flippers into another person's mouth without practicing dentistry."
  11. A kitchen spatula.
    • 2009, Amy J. Yowell, The Silent Cry, page 161:
      Remember the mornings when you help me fix eggs and pancakes for breakfast. You always had to use the “flipper” to turn the pancakes and eggs.
  12. (finance, art) Someone who flips, in the sense of buying a house or other asset and selling it quickly for profit.
    • 2014 April 3, Walter Robinson, “Flipping and the Rise of Zombie Formalism”, in Artspace‎, archived from the original on 2 October 2015:
      Two notable examples of Zombie Formalism would be the electroplated silver monochromes of Jacob Kassay (b. 1984) and the “Rain Paintings” of Lucien Smith (b. 1989), both recent favorites of the art flippers.
  13. Someone who flips in any other sense, for example throwing a coin.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Verb

flipper (third-person singular simple present flippers, present participle flippering, simple past and past participle flippered)

  1. To lift one or both flippers out of the water and slap the surface of the water.

Further reading

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Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English flipper.

Pronunciation

Noun

flipper m (plural flippers, diminutive flippertje n)

  1. a flipper, a fin (swimming gear)
    Synonym: zwemvlies
  2. a flipper (limb-like appendage of an aquatic animal)
    Synonym: vin
  3. a flipper, a flipper bumper (lever in a pinball machine for hitting the ball; also the input device for operating this lever)
  4. (rare) a pinball machine
    Synonym: flipperkast

Derived terms

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French

Etymology 1

From English flipper, the part of a pinball machine used to strike the ball up higher on the game surface.

Pronunciation

Noun

flipper m (plural flippers)

  1. pinball
  2. pinball machine
    Synonyms: (dated) billard électrique, (Quebec) machine à boules

Further reading

Etymology 2

From English flip (one's lid).

Pronunciation

Verb

flipper

  1. (colloquial, slang) to freak out
Conjugation
Conjugation of flipper (see also Appendix:French verbs)
More information infinitive, simple ...

Further reading

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Italian

Pronunciation

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Noun

flipper m (invariable)

  1. pinball (game and machine)

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French flipper, from English flipper.

Noun

flipper n (plural flippere)

  1. pinball

Declension

More information singular, plural ...

Swedish

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