kipper

¹

[ kip-er ]

noun

1. a fish, especially a herring, that has been cured by splitting, salting, drying, and smoking.
2. this method of curing fish.
3. a male salmon during or after the spawning season.

verb (used with object)

1. to cure (herring, salmon, etc.) by splitting, salting, drying and smoking.

kipper

²

[ kip-er ]

noun

, Australian Informal.

1. a young Aboriginal male, usually 14 to 16 years old, who has recently undergone his tribal initiation rite.

kipper

¹

/ ˈkɪpə /

noun

1. informal.
   an adult who cannot afford to move away from his or her parents' home

kipper

²

/ ˈkɪpə /

noun

1. a fish, esp a herring, that has been cleaned, salted, and smoked
2. a male salmon during the spawning season
3. archaic.
   an Englishman

verb

1. tr to cure (a fish, esp a herring) by salting and smoking

kipper

³

/ ˈkɪpə /

noun

1. a native Australian youth who has completed an initiation rite

Word History and Origins

Origin of kipper¹

before 1000; Middle English kypre, Old English cypera spawning salmon, apparently derivative of cyperen of copper, i.e., copper-colored

Origin of kipper²

First recorded in 1835–45, kipper is from the Wiradjuri word gibirr “man”

Word History and Origins

Origin of kipper¹

C21: from k ( ids ) i ( n ) p ( arents' ) p ( ockets ) e ( roding ) r ( etirement ) ( savings )

Origin of kipper²

Old English cypera, perhaps from coper copper ¹; referring to its colour

Origin of kipper³

from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

He was known only as "Mr Kipper" and was never traced.

From BBC

According to reports, Cannan was nicknamed Kipper during an earlier prison sentence.

From BBC

He also bore a resemblance to an e-fit of a man with whom Ms Lamplugh was seen talking on the day she went missing - thought to be the mysterious Mr Kipper.

From BBC

Williams’ crew of producers, for example, include veteran R&B artist Kipper Jones, who worked on her earlier albums, and Chantry Johnson, who has also produced Lana Del Rey.

From Salon

Created by designer Michael Fish, it is a "Kipper tie", known for its unusually wide shape.

From BBC

Related Words

• dry
• preserve
• smoke