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Added 9 October 2026

flapper

/ˈflæpɚ/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about flapper at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A young girl usually between the ages of 15 and 18, especially one not "out" socially.
A young woman, especially when unconventional or without decorum or displaying daring freedom or boldness; now particularly associated with the Jazz Age of the 1920s. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

noun

One who or that which flaps.
A young game bird just able to fly, particularly a wild duck.
A flipper; a limb of a turtle, which functions as a flipper or paddle when swimming.

noun

Any injury that results in a loose flap of skin on the fingers, making gripping difficult.

Origin

possible etymologies Possibly from Victorian sporting slang, meaning young wildfowl in August which are full-sized, tender and worthwhile quarry, but are naive and unable to fly properly due to the late development of flight feathers in ducks and geese. Alternative derivations are also suggested. The word "flap" was slang in the 17th century for a prostitute: by the late 19th century in England "flapper" could mean either a very young prostitute: or a teenage girl too old to be a child and too young to be considered 'out' in society: "A 'flapper', we may explain, is a young lady who has not yet been promoted to long frocks and the wearing of her hair 'up'".

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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