What does eggbeater mean?
An eggbeater is a kitchen implement designed to beat eggs, whip cream, or blend light batters quickly and evenly. The traditional hand-cranked version consists of two interlocking blades rotated by turning a handle at the side; when the crank turns, the blades spin rapidly through the contents of a bowl, incorporating air far faster than manual whisking. Electric versions powered by small motors became widespread in the twentieth century, though the name persists for both types. The word is most common in North American English, where British speakers typically say "egg whisk" or simply "whisk." Informally, especially among American aviators and military personnel, "eggbeater" is affectionate slang for a helicopter, a comparison inspired by the whirling rotor blades that resemble the device in motion. The term evokes domestic nostalgia for many, recalling vintage kitchen tools, while its aviation sense gives it an unexpectedly playful second life.
A kitchen device, typically hand-cranked or battery-powered, with rotating blades used to beat eggs, whip cream, or mix light ingredients.
"He attached the eggbeater to the mixer and began whipping the meringue."
More common in American English; British speakers usually say "egg whisk" or "whisk."
Informal term for a helicopter, referencing its spinning rotor blades.
"The medevac eggbeater touched down just as the sun set."
Slang register, chiefly American, often heard in military or aviation contexts.
Standard plural formation.
"The kitchen drawer was cluttered with old eggbeaters and rusty graters."
Before electric mixers existed, a simple hand-cranked eggbeater — invented in the 19th century — was revolutionary enough that one early model sold over a million units.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eggbeater
Eggbeater is a straightforward English compound of "egg" (from Old Norse "egg") and "beater" (from the verb "beat," from Old English "béatan"). The mechanical eggbeater emerged in the mid-nineteenth century, when a series of patents in the United States produced rotary cranked devices for whipping eggs, making the compound word common in household vocabulary. Its use as slang for a helicopter developed later in the twentieth century.
Related word forms
How eggbeater is actually used
In British English, "egg whisk" is the more common term for the kitchen tool. The slang sense meaning helicopter is informal and chiefly American, often used by pilots or in aviation contexts.
Easily confused with eggbeater
A whisk uses looped wires moved by hand, while an eggbeater has interlocking rotating blades driven by a crank or motor.