clipper

pronunciation

How to pronounce clipper in British English: UK [ˈklɪpə(r)] word uk audio image

How to pronounce clipper in American English: US [ˈklɪpər] word us audio image

Noun:

(electronics) an nonlinear electronic circuit whose output is limited in amplitude; used to limit the instantaneous amplitude of a waveform (to clip off the peaks of a waveform)
a fast sailing ship used in former times
shears for cutting grass or shrubbery
scissors for cutting hair or finger nails

Word Origin

clipper (n.): late 14c., "sheepshearer;" early 15c., "a barber;" c. 1300 as a surname; agent noun from Middle English clippen "shorten" (see clip (v.1)). The type of fast sailing ship so called from 1823 (in Cooper's "The Pilot"), probably from clip (v.1) in sense of "to move or run rapidly," hence early 19c. sense "person or animal who looks capable of fast running." Perhaps originally simply "fast ship," regardless of type: Well, you know, the Go-along-Gee was one o' your flash Irish cruisers -- the first o' your fir-built frigates -- and a clipper she was! Give her a foot o' the sheet, and she'd go like a witch--but somehow o'nother, she'd bag on a bowline to leeward. ["Naval Sketch-Book," by "An officer of rank," London, 1826] The early association of the ships was with Baltimore, Maryland. Perhaps influenced by Middle Dutch klepper "swift horse," echoic (Clipper appears as the name of an English race horse in 1831). In late 18c., the word principally meant "one who cuts off the edges of coins" for the precious metal.

2. Or maybe I 'd like them to think wind power is so cool and sexy that they 'll be inspired to engineer something as cool as the clipper ships in the book .

3. Tv announcer : " lionel trains proudly present the joe dimaggio show , starring the yankee clipper , joe dimaggio himself "

4. Corey maggette , who might very well end up a bull , a laker , or anything other than a clipper , hit a free throw and now chicago had only a one-point lead late in the fourth quarter .