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.
双语例句
1. You'll find them in the'Clipper,'though.
不过你可以从《剪报》上找到他们.
来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
2. Late in 1935 American clipper planes began trans - Pacific flight.
1935年底,美国的远程客机开始了横越太平洋的飞行.
来自辞典例句
3. The pirate ship boarded the clipper.
海盗船强行靠近快艇.
来自辞典例句
4. He clipped off the few hairs of his spare beard with a fingernail clipper.
他用一把指甲剪剪去几根胡须.
来自辞典例句
5. When you hand clipper, it is located near your thumb.
