Lipping

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. The act of applying or shaping the edge or rim of an object ; speaking or mouthing words silently ; affecting or altering the border of something in a noticeable way
2. Forming or adding a raised or defined edge along a surface ; moving lips to form words without vocalizing ; impacting the perimeter or lip of a material item
3. Creating a distinct boundary or flange on an item’s edge ; silently articulating words using mouth movements only ; changing the outline or margin of an object’s surface

Etymology: "Lipping" is the present participle and gerund of "lip", used here as a noun for the raised edge along a border. The verb "lip" traces back to Old English "lippa", and it sits in a family of Germanic words for the body part, cognate with Dutch "lip", German "Lippe", and Swedish "läpp". Those share a common ancestor with the Latin "labium", the source of English "labial", so the word's Latin relative is the same body-part word that gave English its labial sounds. The extension from mouth to edge is the key move. A lip is the rim of an opening, and English applied the same image to anything with a projecting rim: the lip of a cup, a crater, or a cliff. The "raised edge" sense of "lipping" follows that pattern, describing the strip of material that rises along the boundary of a surface, such as the moulding around a tabletop or the rim along a tray.

Synonyms: talking back, backtalking, cheeky response, sass, impudence

Antonyms: respect, deference, obedience, submission, politeness