zeppelinhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zeppelin_v%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezeppelin, v.
Revised 2014

zeppelinverb

  1. 1.
    Chiefly U.S.
    1. 1.a.
      1910–
      intransitive. To move in a manner reminiscent of a Zeppelin; esp. to soar, to be buoyant (literal and figurative).
      In early use chiefly with reference to a baseball.
      1. 1910
        There was an awful groan as the bean Zeppelined over first base.
        Current Literature November 497/2
      2. 1915
        White Sox pennant hopes Zeppelined yesterday when they trounced the Tigers.
        La Crosse (Wisconsin) Tribune 8 September 8/5
      3. 1920
        Tea and tobacco..are among the commodities that have lately zeppelined in New Zealand.
        New Zealand Observer 31 January 7/
      4. 1933
        The sun went down and a few indigo clouds zeppelined across the sky followed by a mist which turned into a fairly thick fog.
        C. Duff in W. L. H., Charles' Wain 71
      5. 2010
        Another bee zeppelined by.
        M. Hooton, Deloume Road 35
    2. 1.b.
      1911–
      intransitive. Baseball. To hit the ball high and long; esp. to hit a home run. Also transitive. Now apparently disused.
      1. 1911
        Cranfill was first up..and he ‘Zeppelined’ one through the atmosphere at comet speed, which finally cast anchor on a neighboring farm.
        Daily Courier (New Castle, Indiana) 12 June 8/6
      2. 1915
        Utley Zeppelined to Dunning.
        Daily Times Enterprise (Thomasville, Georgia) 31 May
      3. 1930
        Schoffner zeppelined for the Indians in the eighth.
        Atlantic (Iowa) News-Tel. 11 July 6/3
      4. 1931
        Ray Benge zeppelined in the eighth.
        Tyrone (Pennsylvania) Daily Herald 5 June 7/5
    1. 2.a.
      1915–
      transitive. To drop bombs on from a Zeppelin; to destroy in a Zeppelin raid. Frequently in passive. Now historical.
      1. 1915
        London zeppelined again; dispatches hint heavy losses.
        Washington Herald 13 September 1/7 (heading)
      2. 1916
        They will Zeppelin the fleet and walk through our army.
        H. G. Wells, Mr. Britling sees it Through i. v. §12
      3. 1928
        They Zeppelined schools and sank hospital ships.
        Brownwood (Texas) Bulletin 8 December 8/5
      4. 2009
        So we'd be able to discover who was missing like. If their house got Zeppelined, sir.
        G. Ison, Hardcastle's Mandarin 66
    2. 2.b.
      1915–
      transitive. figurative. Now rare.
      1. 1915
        He has been Zeppelined with association speeches. He has been submarined with expert essays.
        Modern Lumberman 125
      2. 1918
        Don't allow yourself to be Zeppelined by unfounded fears, or submarined by false economy.
        New Country Life June 87/2

Originally published as part of the entry for Zeppelin, n.

zeppelin, v. was revised in June 2014.

zeppelin, v. was last modified in September 2024.