zip tienoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zip tie mean?
There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zip tie. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is used in U.S. English.
How common is the noun zip tie?
| 2017 | 0.16 |
| 2018 | 0.16 |
| 2019 | 0.22 |
| 2020 | 0.24 |
| 2021 | 0.26 |
| 2022 | 0.27 |
| 2023 | 0.3 |
| 2024 | 0.24 |
How is the noun zip tie pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the noun zip tie come from?
Earliest known use
1960s
The earliest known use of the noun zip tie is in the 1960s.
OED's earliest evidence for zip tie is from 1969, in Modern Packaging.
Nearby entries
- zipperhead, n.1967–
- zipper problem, n.1985–
- Zippie, n.¹1968–
- zippie, n.²1986–
- zippily, adv.1924–
- zippiness, n.1907–
- zipping, n.1868–
- Zippo, n.¹1944–
- zippo, n.²1973–
- zippy, adj.1889–
- zip tie, n.1969–
- zip-tie, v.1985–
- zip top, n.1926–
- zip-up, adj. & n.1927–
- zip wire, n.1971–
- zir, pron.1993–
- zir, adj.1993–
- ziraleet, n.1794–
- ziram, n.1950–
- zirbal, adj.?a1425–
- zirbus, n.a1400–
Etymology
Meaning & use
- 1.1969–A type of detachable fastening for a bin bag or refuse bag. rare.
- 1969
Armin Ties It All Up with the New ‘Zip 'N Tie’ Poly Refuse-Bags... The ‘zip-tie’ is part of the bag—just rip it off and tie—no strings—no extra tie twists.
Modern Packaging December 142/1 (advertisement)
the world relative properties wholeness mutual relation of parts to whole fastening binding or tying a bond, tie, or fastening [nouns] tie- tieOld English–That with which anything is tied; a cord, band, or the like, used for fastening something; a knot, noose, or ligature; a natural formation of this…
- bonda1325–1674Formerly more generally, ‘string, band, tie’.
- tying1548–concrete. Something used for tying; something that ties, binds, or connects; a tie. ? Obsolete.
- tial1549–That with which something is tied; a rope, cord, string, or thread. Now northern dialect (see Eng. Dial. Dict.).
- tier1845–Something that ties or is used for tying; a band; spec. one for tying a sail; plural = tie-up, n. I.4.
- zip tie1969–A type of detachable fastening for a bin bag or refuse bag. rare.
- zip tie1983–A fastener consisting of a thin, flexible nylon strap with a notched surface, which is secured by feeding one end through a locking mechanism at the…
- 2.1983–A fastener consisting of a thin, flexible nylon strap with a notched surface, which is secured by feeding one end through a locking mechanism at the other to form a loop; spec. a fastener of this type forming two loops and used as handcuffs (see zip cuff n.).
- 1983
Zip Ties. These wonderful little strips of plastic come in several lengths.
Frets (California) June 29/1 - 1991
He manacled my wrists with a large plastic zip tie.
M. O'Callaghan, Set-up iii. 23 - 2001
Use zip-ties to neatly secure the wires, and make certain they are kept away from gears.
Radio Control Car Action June 169/2 - 2012
Maureen..was facedown on the floor, her hands and feet bound with zip ties.
G. C. Kenry, Survival Methods & Mating Rituals of Men & Marine Mammals xlv. 437
the world relative properties wholeness mutual relation of parts to whole fastening binding or tying a bond, tie, or fastening [nouns] tie- tieOld English–That with which anything is tied; a cord, band, or the like, used for fastening something; a knot, noose, or ligature; a natural formation of this…
- bonda1325–1674Formerly more generally, ‘string, band, tie’.
- tying1548–concrete. Something used for tying; something that ties, binds, or connects; a tie. ? Obsolete.
- tial1549–That with which something is tied; a rope, cord, string, or thread. Now northern dialect (see Eng. Dial. Dict.).
- tier1845–Something that ties or is used for tying; a band; spec. one for tying a sail; plural = tie-up, n. I.4.
- zip tie1969–A type of detachable fastening for a bin bag or refuse bag. rare.
- zip tie1983–A fastener consisting of a thin, flexible nylon strap with a notched surface, which is secured by feeding one end through a locking mechanism at the…
society authority subjection restraint or restraining restraint depriving of liberty binding or fettering [nouns] bond(s) or fetter(s) or shackle(s) for the hands or arms- copsOld English–1200A shackle for any part of the body; a fetter (Old English fót-cops), manacle (hand-cops), or collar (sweor-cops), to secure a prisoner. Obsolete.
- manaclec1350–Usually in plural. A fetter for the hand; (more generally) a shackle.
- handlock1532–A lockable metal ring used to secure the wrist of a prisoner to someone or something; a manacle, a handcuff; (in plural) a linked pair of these…
- hand-bolt1563–A handcuff. Frequently in plural. Also figurative.
- handbinder1585–a. A device for binding a person's hands, a fetter or handcuff; b. a device to assist in binding grain by hand; c. a person who binds books by hand.
- handcuff1649–A lockable restraint consisting of a ring, typically made of metal and one of a pair joined by a short chain or bar, which can secure both a…
- cuff1663–A fetter for the wrist, a handcuff, n.
- Darbies1673–plural. Handcuffs: sometimes also, fetters. slang.
- glim-fenders1699–Andirons; also punningly, handcuffs.
- shackle-bolt1706–dialect. A handcuff.
- a. = government paper, n.; †b. slang handcuffs; fetters (obsolete).
- pinion1736–A manacle, a fetter. rare.
- ruffles1776–In plural. slang. Handcuffs. Now rare.
- bracelet1817–A fetter for the wrist, a gyve, hand-cuff.
- nippers1821–In plural. slang. Handcuffs (see also quot. 1982).
- handicuff1825–= handcuff, n.
- shangy1839–A shackle; plural handcuffs.
- snitchers1860–plural. Strings used by the police in place of handcuffs. Scottish.
- come-along1874–North American colloquial. In plural. A type of manacle or handcuff. Now historical.
- shackle-irons1876–Hand-cuffs.
- mitten1880–slang. Now rare. (a) (In plural) handcuffs; (b) a hand or fist (usually in plural); (c) a boxing glove (usually in plural).
- wristlet1881–A handcuff, a wrist-iron.
- snaps1891–plural. Hand-cuffs. slang.
- snips1891–plural. Handcuffs. slang.
- stringers1893–plural. Handcuffs. slang.
- twister1910–One who or that which turns about, turns from side to side, rotates, etc. A type of handcuff (see quot. 1939).
- zip tie1983–A fastener consisting of a thin, flexible nylon strap with a notched surface, which is secured by feeding one end through a locking mechanism at the…
- zip cuff1995–Usually in plural. A fastener used as handcuffs, consisting of a thin, flexible nylon strap with a notched surface that is shaped to form two…
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.
Consonants
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values
- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige
Vowels
- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot
Frequency
zip tie typically occurs about 0.2 times per million words in modern written English.
zip tie is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands
Frequency of zip tie, n., 2017–2024
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.
| Period | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.16 |
| 2018 | 0.16 |
| 2019 | 0.22 |
| 2020 | 0.24 |
| 2021 | 0.26 |
| 2022 | 0.27 |
| 2023 | 0.3 |
| 2024 | 0.24 |
Compounds & derived words
- zip-tie, v. 1985–transitive. To fasten or secure (something) with…