Flippers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of swimming aid worn on the feet to propel oneself through water more efficiently
2. A device that resembles a shoe but is designed to enhance swimming performance by increasing surface area
3. An accessory used by divers, surfers, and swimmers to improve maneuverability and speed in aquatic environments

Etymology: "Flippers" is simply the plural of "flipper," the noun for the broad, paddle-like foot attachment swimmers wear. The singular comes from "flip," a verb meaning to move with a light, quick motion, combined with the suffix "-er," which turns a verb into a noun for the thing or agent doing that action. A flipper, then, is something that flips, in this case the foot pushing water with quick strokes. The word has a close relative in Saterland Frisian, a small language spoken in northwestern Germany, where "Flappert" means a flipper or a wing. The two words share a sense of rapid, flapping motion, suggesting the idea of a limb that beats the air or water. Because the English term rests on the everyday verb "flip," it is a plain, transparent formation rather than a borrowed or classical coinage.

Synonyms: fins, paddles, webbed feet