English Explanatory Dictionary

whippersnapper

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A young and cheeky or presumptuous person; often with a connotation of ignorance via inexperience.

Pronunciation

/ˈwɪpəˌsnæpə/ /ˈʍɪpəɹˌsnæpəɹ/ en-us-whippersnapper.ogg en-au-whippersnapper.ogg

Word forms

whippersnapper whippersnappers whipper-snapper whipper snapper

Etymology

Extension of *whip-snapper (“a cracker of whips”), or perhaps from snipper-snapper. Compare also whipperginnie (“term of abuse for a woman”), late 16th c.

Related words

spring chicken upstart youngster
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