tapper

¹ American  

[tap-er] / ˈtæp ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that taps or strikes lightly.

2. a telegraph key.

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tapper ² American  

[tap-er] / ˈtæp ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that taps, as trees for the sap or juice, a blast furnace, cask, or other container for their contents, etc.

2. a person who cuts screw threads into the surface of a circular opening, as of a pipe, nut, etc.

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tapper British  

/ ˈtæpə /

noun

1. a person who taps

2. a tool or instrument that taps

3. dialect an unstable and violent person

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Etymology

Origin of tapper¹

First recorded in 1800–10; tap ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of tapper²

before 1000; Old English tæppere (not recorded in ME); see tap ², -er ¹

Example Sentences

The author notes that Bradley loosened his taps in such a way that they projected “a little brightness,” like those of tapper extraordinaire Honi Coles.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

It was ultimately Gregory Hines who became the defining tapper of his generation, although both brothers were undisputed masters of the craft.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2024

Rutschman then hit a tapper back to Muñoz.

From Washington Times • Aug. 13, 2023

A rule change “poster boy”: Kevin Gausman is a toe tapper.

From New York Times • Mar. 6, 2023

Sometimes a palm wine tapper could be seen climbing in the early evening.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah