Apedia

Clipper Early O Late Middle English Clip Fast

单词 clipper
音标 ['klipə]
解释 n.大剪刀;快速帆船
红宝书 【英】 n.快速帆船(sailing vessel built for great speed)
字源 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.
不择手段背单词
趣味全助记 【记】clip剪 + er

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.

Next card: Clique french n intimates kli:k n.朋党派系,小集团 英 朋党派系,小集团

Previous card: Clip meaning embrace source compare klippa related clipped

Up to card list: 极品GRE红宝书(简体中文)