skipper

¹

[ skip-er ]

noun

1. the master or captain of a vessel, especially of a small trading or fishing vessel.
2. a captain or leader, as of a team.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as skipper of.

skipper

²

[ skip-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that skips.
2. any of various insects that hop or fly with jerky motions.
3. any of numerous quick-flying, lepidopterous insects of the family Hesperiidae, closely related to the true butterflies.
4. saury ( def 1 ).

skipper

¹

/ ˈskɪpə /

noun

1. the captain of any vessel
2. the captain of an aircraft
3. a manager or leader, as of a sporting team

verb

1. to act as skipper (of)

skipper

²

/ ˈskɪpə /

noun

1. a person or thing that skips
2. any small butterfly of the family Hesperiidae, having a hairy mothlike body and erratic darting flight
3. another name for saury

Word History and Origins

Origin of skipper¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle Dutch schipper, equivalent to schip ship ¹ + -er -er ¹

Origin of skipper²

1200–50; Middle English: locust. See skip ¹, -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of skipper¹

C14: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schipper shipper

Example Sentences

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes says he spoke to sacked manager Erik ten Hag and apologised for not doing more to stop him losing his job.

From BBC

"It is the main focus of the town," said skipper Jonathan Evans, who spends his days collecting visitors off the pier before dazzling them with the area's wildlife from his boat the Suncatcher.

From BBC

He joins Test skipper Ben Stokes in signing until the autumn of 2026 after the all-rounder agreed a new deal at the beginning of October.

From BBC

Rugby union skipper Jamie George has worn the red rose 93 times.

From BBC

Furthermore, the England skipper's teenage idol, South Africa great AB de Villiers, also played much of his career as a wicketkeeper, but kept in only three of his last 78 matches and averaged 65.

From BBC

Related Words

• captain
• sea captain