What does flipper mean?
A flipper is a broad, flattened limb that certain animals use to move through water. Seals, sea lions, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and penguins all propel themselves with flippers, which evolved from ordinary limbs as their ancestors returned to the sea. The word extends naturally to humans: the rubber fins strapped to the feet of divers and snorkellers are called flippers too. Beyond the water, the term has found two lively specialist uses — in cricket, a flipper is a leg-spin delivery delivered with backspin so that it skids onto the batter lower and faster than anticipated, a ball perfected by Shane Warne; and on a pinball table, the flippers are the player-controlled paddles that keep the ball in play. The plural "flippers" is standard, and the word carries no strong connotations, being neutral in both scientific and everyday contexts. Its blend of natural history and recreation makes it a pleasingly versatile little word.
A broad, flat limb used for swimming by aquatic animals such as seals, dolphins, turtles, and penguins; also a rubber fin worn on the foot by divers and swimmers.
"The turtle paddled gracefully, sweeping its front flippers through the water."
This is the dominant sense in general usage, covering both the anatomical limb and the artificial diving fin.
In cricket, a leg-spin delivery bowled with backspin so that it travels faster and bounces lower than a normal spin delivery.
"His flipper deceived the batter entirely, crashing into the pads before the bat came down."
Chiefly British and Australian cricket terminology.
One of the spring-loaded levers on a pinball table used by the player to hit the ball.
"He kept the ball alive with a deft flick of the left flipper."
Used almost exclusively in the context of pinball machines.
Regular plural. Animals typically have two flippers per pair, so the plural is common when referring to a set, and "a pair of flippers" is the usual way to refer to diving fins.
"Penguins use their stiff flippers essentially as wings underwater."
The word that names a dolphin's arm also names the levers you bash on a pinball machine — and one of cricket's most deceptive deliveries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of flipper
Flipper was formed in English by adding the agentive suffix "-er" to the older verb and noun "flip," meaning to toss or strike with a light, quick movement. The underlying word "flip" is likely of imitative origin, probably reinforced by Scandinavian cognates, and appeared in English by the seventeenth century. The same root produced "flippant," which originally meant light and nimble before shifting to describe a glib manner, and is related to "fillip," a light flick or stimulus. The swimming sense of flipper arose in the nineteenth century, with the pinball and cricket senses developing in the twentieth century.
How flipper is actually used
The animal-limb and diving-fin senses are standard in both British and American English and carry no particular register. The cricket sense is chiefly British and Australian sporting vocabulary, and the pinball sense is largely confined to discussions of that game.
Easily confused with flipper
"Flip" is the verb meaning to toss or turn over (or an adjective meaning casual), while "flipper" is the noun for a swimming limb, a rubber fin, a pinball lever, or a tricky cricket delivery.