blimp

[blimp]
noun
1.
a small, nonrigid airship or dirigible, especially one used chiefly for observation.
2.
Slang. a fat person.
Verb phrases
3.
blimp out, Slang. to eat too much.
Origin:
1915–20; of uncertain origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged

Blimp

[blimp]
( sometimes lowercase )
Colonel Blimp.
Origin:
1930–35

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To Blimp
00:10
Blimp is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
blimp1 (blɪmp) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  a small nonrigid airship, esp one used for observation or as a barrage balloon
2.  films a soundproof cover fixed over a camera during shooting
 
[C20: probably from (type) B-limp]

blimp2 (blɪmp) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
chiefly (Brit) (often capital) Also called: Colonel Blimp a person, esp a military officer, who is stupidly complacent and reactionary
 
[C20: after a character created by Sir David Low (1891--1963), New Zealand-born British political cartoonist]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

blimp
1916, of obscure origin, many claimants. "One of the weird coinages of the airmen" [Weekley]. Common theory is that it is from designers' prototype nickname Type B-limp, in the sense of "without internal framework," as opposed to Type A-rigid.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

blimp definition


  1. n.
    a nickname for an obese person. : This enormous blimp managed to get on the plane but couldn't get into a seat.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

blimp

nonrigid or semirigid airship dependent on internal gas pressure to maintain its form. The origin of the name blimp is uncertain, but the most common explanation is that it derives from "British Class B airship" plus "limp"-i.e., nonrigid. Blimps were used by navies during World War I in convoy and antisubmarine patrol duty, became attractions at fairs and expositions, and later carried advertising messages.

Learn more about blimp with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Cite This Source
Example sentences from the web
The blimp works by creating a volume of still air around the microphone.
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT