zippyhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zippy_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezippy, adj.
Revised 2021

zippyadjective

colloquial (originally U.S.).
  1. 1.
    1889–
    Characterized by rapid movement; fast, speedy. Cf. zip v.1 1a.
    1. 1889
      The zippy going-off of the ricotchetty and riproarious ripper [i.e. a firecracker] delighteth not their hearts.
      Boston Sunday Globe 23 June 16/2
    2. 1971
      The engine warms up rapidly and provides zippy acceleration.
      Daily Telegraph 23 June 11/6
    3. 1990
      He drives extremely fast in tiny violent bursts between traffic lights and snarl-ups, as if he can't bear to let his zippy car idle at a tame and tedious thirty.
      W. Perriam, Fifty-minute Hour (1991) xx. 238
    4. 2012
      The morning walks..quickly moved up into longer stretches and zippy speeds that wore out both of us!
      Winnipeg Free Press 25 May a3
  2. 2.
    1903–
    Full of ‘zip’ (zip n.1 B.1b); bright, lively, energetic; fresh, invigorating.
    Quot. 1903 probably shows the influence of sense 1.
    1. 1903
      As for Vivian, our bright-eyed little Daughter, she is the zippiest little High-Flyer that speeds the Boulevard.
      G. Ade in Evening Gazette (Burlington, Iowa) 2 May 10/5
    2. 1917
      It bubbles o'er with song and jest, Its fun is keen and ‘zippy’.
      National Police Gazette (U.S.) 25 August 2/4
    3. 1923
      I'm going to write..something zippy to brighten the thing up a bit.
      P. G. Wodehouse, Inimit. Jeeves xv. 195
    4. 1953
      The March evening was zippy outside but cupped in it the breath of spring.
      American Mercury January 67/2
    5. 2005
      My cell phone's zippy disco ring tone startled me so badly I almost fell off the chair.
      J. Weiner, Goodnight Nobody xxix. 247
  3. 3.
    1911–
    Designating a zesty, tangy, or piquant flavour; (of food or drink) having such flavour.
    1. 1911
      Apples with that zippy tang that a cold climate gives.
      Living without Boss xiv. 144
    2. 1980
      Ch. Potensac. Zippy little wine.
      M. Broadbent, Great Vintage Wine Book 134
    3. 2013
      Bo kho, a beefy braise perfumed with star anise and zippy lemongrass.
      Wall Street Journal 12 January d5/1

zippy, adj. was revised in March 2021.

zippy, adj. was last modified in June 2024.