clipper

noun

clip·​per ˈkli-pər 

1

: one that clips something

2

: an implement for clipping especially hair, fingernails, or toenails

—usually used in plural

3

: something that moves swiftly: such as

a

: a fast sailing ship

especially : one with long slender lines, an overhanging bow, tall masts, and a large sail area

b

or clipper system : a fast-moving, low-pressure weather system : alberta clipper

… but that's just a taste of things to come as that clipper system moves across the Lakes.

—Nick Walker

Examples of clipper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Use sharp garden clippers, loppers, or a small, handheld chainsaw to carefully prune away sections of the vine. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 June 2025

Volunteers are welcome to bring shovels, spades, loppers, hatchets and clippers. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025

Instead, the research was limited to potentially negative things a dog might encounter in an ordinary day, such as a cat or nail clippers. —Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025

Bringing personal clippers or files can help reduce contamination risk. —Lauren Paige Richeson, Health, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clipper

• Alberta clipper

Rhymes for clipper

• chipper
• dipper
• flipper
• gripper
• kipper
• nipper
• ripper
• shipper
• skipper
• slipper
• stripper
• tipper

Kids Definition

clipper

noun

clip·​per ˈklip-ər 

1

: one that clips

2

plural : a device for clipping

hair clippers

3

: a fast sailing ship with usually three tall masts and large square sails