English Explanatory Dictionary

dapper

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Neat, trim.
  2. Stylishly dressed, neatly dressed, spiffy.
  3. Quick; little and active.
noun
  1. A plimsoll.

Pronunciation

/ˈdæpə(ɹ)/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-dapper.wav

Word forms

dapper dapperer dapperest dappers

Etymology

From Middle English daper (“pretty, neat”), from Middle Dutch dapper (“stalwart, nimble”), Old Dutch *dapar, from Proto-Germanic *dapraz (“stout; solid; heavy; bold”) (compare German tapfer "bold", Norwegian daper "saddened, dreary"), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeb- ‘thick, heavy’ (compare Tocharian A tpär ‘high’, Latvian dàbls ‘strong’, Serbo-Croatian дебео (dèbeo) ‘fat’).

Synonyms

dap

Derived words

Dapper Dan dapperling dapperly dapperness undapper
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