zip-upadjective & noun
Factsheet
What does the word zip-up mean?
There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word zip-up. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
zip-up has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
How common is the word zip-up?
| 1930 | 0.0006 |
| 1940 | 0.0011 |
| 1950 | 0.0021 |
| 1960 | 0.0028 |
| 1970 | 0.005 |
| 1980 | 0.0072 |
| 1990 | 0.0083 |
| 2000 | 0.0096 |
| 2010 | 0.011 |
How is the word zip-up pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the word zip-up come from?
Earliest known use
1920s
The earliest known use of the word zip-up is in the 1920s.
OED's earliest evidence for zip-up is from 1927, in Racine (Wisconsin) Jrnl.-News.
zip-up is formed within English, by compounding.
Etymons: zip v.1, up adv.1 I.
Nearby entries
- 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–
- zircaloy, n.1953–
- zircon, n.1794–
- zirconate, n.1820–
Etymology
Summary
Meaning & use
- adjective
- 1927–Esp. of an item of clothing: fastened by means of a zip.
- 1927
Jersey Leggins, 2 to 6 yrs...Zip-up or button styles, soft and warm. Tan, white and navy.
Racine (Wisconsin) Jrnl.-News 11 November 20/3 (advertisement) - 1959
He wore an open-neck check shirt and a zip-up jacket.
M. Shadbolt, New Zealanders 26 - 1993
Mr Kasmi.., propping his small zip-up bag against a leg of the chair, sat down to wait.
N. Aslam in M. Shamsie, Dragonfly in Sun (1997) 559 - 2016
Having the same light-up sneakers or zip-up hoodie is one way for him to connect with his peer group.
Parents January 80/1
the world textiles and clothing clothing types or styles of clothing [adjectives] fastened in specific way other- well-laced?1590–Usually of clothes or shoes: tightly or securely fastened with laces.
- frogged1774–Of a coat, cloak, etc.: fitted or ornamented with frogs (frog, n.³ 1).
- front-fastening1855–(Of an item of clothing, esp. a corset or bra) that fastens at the front.
- tight-laced1861–That is laced tightly; having the laces drawn tight; wearing stays tightly laced; constricted or compressed by tight-lacing.
- fly-fronted1901–Instrumental., as (sense II.4a) fly-fronted adj.
- zip-up1927–Esp. of an item of clothing: fastened by means of a zip.
- noun
- 1942–A garment, item of footwear, or bag fastened by means of a zip. In later use often: spec. a sweatshirt or fleece fastened with a zip.
- 1942
Handbags For Easter... Zip-ups are included in the assortment.
Indiana (Pennsylvania) Evening Gazette 2 April 5/7 (advertisement) - 1953
Booties for cuties! All leather zip-ups.
Tucson (Arizona) Daily Citizen 18 September 3/5 (advertisement) - 1972
Uniformly young, dressed in one-piece zip-ups, it is not easy to tell the instructors..from the young men they train.
E. Kazan, Assassins (1973) vi. 292 - 1999
Her husband, Alex, has on his Potsy sweater—a cool wool zip-up with vertical stripes.
M. Roth, On Loose 131 - 2016
Kathy came out. Dressed in an oversize gray fleece zip-up and anonymous sneakers, she looked almost Ama's age.
J. Chang, Wangs vs. World xiv. 81
- surplicea1382–transferred. Applied to various ample or enveloping garments.
- cento1610–1751A patchwork; a piece of patchwork used as a garment, bedcover, etc. Obsolete.
- fool's coat1712–1847In extended use: a garment or covering consisting of multiple colours. Obsolete.
- turndown1772–1926A collar that turns down over the neckband of the shirt. Contrasted with stand-up, adj. B.1a, stick-up, adj. A.2. Cf. sense A.1a. Obsolete.
- fit1831–concrete. A garment that fits.
- Tom and Jerry1832–An item of clothing, usually a coat or hat, reminiscent of Pierce Egan's characters Tom and Jerry. Now historical and rare.
- breaster1841–As the second element in compounds: a coat, jacket, etc., having a breast of a specified kind or style. Chiefly in single-breaster, double-breaster…
- princess cut1877–Fashion. On a garment: a style or cut using vertical panels shaped and seamed so as to follow the outline of the figure; (also) a garment, esp…
- frump1886–Said of a dowdy dress.
- trail1896A trailing or hanging article of clothing.
- peekaboo1908–An item of clothing decorated with a pattern of holes so as to allow glimpses of the wearer's body; a partially transparent garment.
- see-through1937–A transparent or translucent garment or fabric.
- zip-up1942–A garment, item of footwear, or bag fastened by means of a zip. In later use often: spec. a sweatshirt or fleece fastened with a zip.
- smart casual1943–A garment or outfit in this style; (also) this style of dress.
- classic1948–A classic garment (see sense A.I.7a).
- hipster1948–An article of clothing which extends to or sits on the hips rather than the waist. Now somewhat rare.
- A-line1955–On a garment, esp. a dress or skirt: a style or cut in which the material flares in a straight line from the shoulder or waist to the hem. Also: a…
- polo1967–A polo neck sweater or shirt; (also) a polo shirt.
- tube1975–A woman's close-fitting, sheath-like garment, frequently of simple design without darts or other tailoring; a tube dress, skirt, etc. Cf. boob tube…
the world textiles and clothing clothing types or styles of clothing footwear shoe or boot [nouns] types of- crakowc1367–1846A boot or shoe with a very long pointed toe, worn at the end of the 14th century.
- block heel1793–A square, chunky heel on a shoe, boot, etc.; (also) an item of footwear having this type of heel.
- veldskoen1822–Formerly, a light shoe made of untanned hide. Now, a heavy boot or shoe for outdoor work.
- lace-up1824–Usually in plural. A shoe, boot, etc., fastened with a lace or laces.
- right1825–A shoe, boot, etc., for the right foot; (also) a glove for the right hand. Cf. left, n. B.3.
- purrer1827–A heavy clog; (also) a person who takes part in a ‘purring’ fight.
- stitchdown shoe1840–A shoe or boot on which the lower edge of the upper is turned outward and stitched on to the sole; a veldt-shoe. Also stitchdown shoe.
- lick-up1851slang. A shoe or boot which has been treated to improve its superficial appearance; cf. lick, v. 4. Obsolete. rare.
- springside1851–a. adj. Designating a boot or shoe with elasticated side panels which allow it to be pulled on and off easily (cf. spring, n.¹ V.29); b. n.…
- clump-shoe1879–A thick extra sole on a shoe, either added outside the sole proper after the shoe is made, or inserted between the sole and bottom of the shoe in…
- high-top1895–Originally and chiefly U.S. A high-top boot or shoe, (now) esp. a sports shoe. Usually in plural.
- low-tops1913–In plural. Low-top boots or shoes; (now usually) soft-soled sports shoes that does not extend above the wearer's ankle. Cf. high-top, n. B.2.
- zip-up1942–A garment, item of footwear, or bag fastened by means of a zip. In later use often: spec. a sweatshirt or fleece fastened with a zip.
- peep-toe1947–A peep-toe shoe; (also) the open toe of such a shoe.
- Dr. Martens1969–A proprietary name for: a type of heavy, usually lace-up boot or shoe with an air-cushioned sole. Now frequently in shortened (plural) forms DM(s), D…
- waffle stomper1974–A boot or shoe with a heavy, ridged sole.
- Doc1980–Chiefly in plural. Doc Martens boots or shoes (see Dr. Martens, n.).
- DM1982–(In plural, as DMs) Dr. Martens boots or shoes; see Dr. Martens, n. A proprietary name.
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-up typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.
zip-up is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands
Frequency of zip-up, adj. & n., 1930–2010
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.
The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.
For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.
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 Google Books corpus.
| Decade | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 1930 | 0.0006 |
| 1940 | 0.0011 |
| 1950 | 0.0021 |
| 1960 | 0.0028 |
| 1970 | 0.005 |
| 1980 | 0.0072 |
| 1990 | 0.0083 |
| 2000 | 0.0096 |
| 2010 | 0.011 |