different between whippersnapper vs snapper

English

Alternative forms

• 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.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?w?p??snæp?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /???p???snæp??/

Noun

whippersnapper (plural whippersnappers)

1. (colloquial) A young and cheeky or presumptuous person. [from 1670s]
   • 2004: Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage

     Eisenhower thought that the President-elect, his junior by over 25 years, was merely a "young whippersnapper."

Synonyms

• upstart

Translations

References

English

Alternative forms

• schnapper (fish)

Etymology

snap +? -er

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?snæp?/
• Rhymes: -æp?(?)

Noun

snapper (plural snappers)

1. One who, or that which, snaps.

   a snapper-up of bargains

   the snapper of a whip

2. Any of approximately 100 different species of fish.
   1. (Australia, New Zealand) The fish Chrysophrys auratus, especially an adult of the species.
   2. (US) Any of the family Lutjanidae of percoid fishes, especially the red snapper.
3. (Ireland, slang) A (human) baby.
   • 1990, Roddy Doyle, The Snapper.
4. (American football) The player who snaps the ball to start the play.
5. (US) Small, paper-wrapped item containing a minute quantity of explosive composition coated on small bits of sand, which explodes noisily when thrown onto a hard surface.
6. (slang) One who takes snaps; a photographer.
7. (US, informal) The snapping turtle.
8. The green woodpecker, or yaffle (Picus viridis).
9. A snap beetle (family Elateridae).
10. (historical) A telegraphic device with a flexible metal tongue for producing clicks like those of the sounder.
11. (US, colloquial) A string bean.
12. (slang) The vulva.
    • 2004, Mary B. Morrison, Never Again Once More

      At thirty-nine, her snapper was snapping at practically every man that appeared halfway decent and had a pulse.
13. (slang, entertainment) A punchline.
    • 1976, Larry Wilde, How the Great Comedy Writers Create Laughter (page 101)

      I don't want a pause before the snapper.

    • 2011, Judy Kerr, Acting is Everything

      The end should always be a “snapper.” The punchline of a monologue is extremely important. Find a good one.

    • 2018, Michelle Ann Abate, Funny Girls (page 55)

      In fact, he began the comic by coming up with the final panel, which he called “the snapper,” and worked backward.

Hyponyms

• (Chrysophrys auratus): cockney (very young), red bream (adolescent), squire (pre-adult)

Derived terms

• black snapper (Sistrurus catenatus)
• pink snapper (Chrysophrys auratus)
• red snapper
• whippersnapper

References

Anagrams

• Nappers, nappers, parsnep, presnap