zip-up, adj. & n.

zip-up
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zip-up_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2021

# 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

costume (1920s) shoes (1940s)

### How common is the word zip-up?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

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

/ˈzɪpʌp/
ZIP-up

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɪpˌəp/
ZIP-up

### 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

1. zippie, n.² 1986–
2. zippily, adv. 1924–
3. zippiness, n. 1907–
4. zipping, n. 1868–
5. Zippo, n.¹ 1944–
6. zippo, n.² 1973–
7. zippy, adj. 1889–
8. zip tie, n. 1969–
9. zip-tie, v. 1985–
10. zip top, n. 1926–
11. zip-up, adj. & n.1927–
12. zip wire, n. 1971–
13. zir, pron. 1993–
14. zir, adj. 1993–
15. ziraleet, n. 1794–
16. ziram, n. 1950–
17. zirbal, adj.?a1425–
18. zirbus, n. a1400–
19. zircaloy, n. 1953–
20. zircon, n. 1794–
21. zirconate, n. 1820–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by compounding.
< zip v.1 + up adv.1 I.

## Meaning & use

1. adjective
   1. 1927–
      Esp. of an item of clothing: fastened by means of a zip.
      1. 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)
      2. 1959

         > He wore an open-neck check shirt and a zip-up jacket.

         M. Shadbolt, New Zealanders 26
      3. 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
      4. 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
      costume
      1. well-laced?1590–
         Usually of clothes or shoes: tightly or securely fastened with laces.
      2. frogged 1774–
         Of a coat, cloak, etc.: fitted or ornamented with frogs (frog, n.³ 1).
      3. front-fastening 1855–
         (Of an item of clothing, esp. a corset or bra) that fastens at the front.
      4. tight-laced 1861–
         That is laced tightly; having the laces drawn tight; wearing stays tightly laced; constricted or compressed by tight-lacing.
      5. fly-fronted 1901–
         Instrumental., as (sense II.4a) fly-fronted adj.
      6. zip-up 1927–
         Esp. of an item of clothing: fastened by means of a zip.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. noun
   1. 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.
      1. 1942

         > Handbags For Easter... Zip-ups are included in the assortment.

         Indiana (Pennsylvania) Evening Gazette 2 April 5/7 (advertisement)
      2. 1953

         > Booties for cuties! All leather zip-ups.

         Tucson (Arizona) Daily Citizen 18 September 3/5 (advertisement)
      3. 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
      4. 1999

         > Her husband, Alex, has on his Potsy sweater—a cool wool zip-up with vertical stripes.

         M. Roth, On Loose 131
      5. 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
      shoes
      1. surplice a1382–
         transferred. Applied to various ample or enveloping garments.
      2. cento 1610–1751
         A patchwork; a piece of patchwork used as a garment, bedcover, etc. Obsolete.
      3. fool's coat 1712–1847
         In extended use: a garment or covering consisting of multiple colours. Obsolete.
      4. turndown 1772–1926
         A 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.
      5. fit 1831–
         concrete. A garment that fits.
      6. Tom and Jerry 1832–
         An item of clothing, usually a coat or hat, reminiscent of Pierce Egan's characters Tom and Jerry. Now historical and rare.
      7. breaster 1841–
         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…
      8. princess cut 1877–
         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…
      9. frump 1886–
         Said of a dowdy dress.
      10. trail 1896
          A trailing or hanging article of clothing.
      11. peekaboo 1908–
          An item of clothing decorated with a pattern of holes so as to allow glimpses of the wearer's body; a partially transparent garment.
      12. see-through 1937–
          A transparent or translucent garment or fabric.
      13. zip-up 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.
      14. smart casual 1943–
          A garment or outfit in this style; (also) this style of dress.
      15. classic 1948–
          A classic garment (see sense A.I.7a).
      16. hipster 1948–
          An article of clothing which extends to or sits on the hips rather than the waist. Now somewhat rare.
      17. A-line 1955–
          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…
      18. polo 1967–
          A polo neck sweater or shirt; (also) a polo shirt.
      19. tube 1975–
          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…
      View in Historical Thesaurus
      1. crakow c1367–1846
         A boot or shoe with a very long pointed toe, worn at the end of the 14th century.
      2. block heel 1793–
         A square, chunky heel on a shoe, boot, etc.; (also) an item of footwear having this type of heel.
      3. veldskoen 1822–
         Formerly, a light shoe made of untanned hide. Now, a heavy boot or shoe for outdoor work.
      4. lace-up 1824–
         Usually in plural. A shoe, boot, etc., fastened with a lace or laces.
      5. right 1825–
         A shoe, boot, etc., for the right foot; (also) a glove for the right hand. Cf. left, n. B.3.
      6. purrer 1827–
         A heavy clog; (also) a person who takes part in a ‘purring’ fight.
      7. stitchdown shoe 1840–
         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.
      8. lick-up 1851
         slang. A shoe or boot which has been treated to improve its superficial appearance; cf. lick, v. 4. Obsolete. rare.
      9. springside 1851–
         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.…
      10. clump-shoe 1879–
          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…
      11. high-top 1895–
          Originally and chiefly U.S. A high-top boot or shoe, (now) esp. a sports shoe. Usually in plural.
      12. low-tops 1913–
          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.
      13. zip-up 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.
      14. peep-toe 1947–
          A peep-toe shoe; (also) the open toe of such a shoe.
      15. Dr. Martens 1969–
          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…
      16. waffle stomper 1974–
          A boot or shoe with a heavy, ridged sole.
      17. Doc 1980–
          Chiefly in plural. Doc Martens boots or shoes (see Dr. Martens, n.).
      18. DM 1982–
          (In plural, as DMs) Dr. Martens boots or shoes; see Dr. Martens, n. A proprietary name.
      View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɪpʌp/
ZIP-up

### U.S. English

/ˈzɪpˌəp/
ZIP-up

####

##### 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 /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### 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 /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### 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 data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### 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

Originally published as part of the entry for zip, v.¹

zip-up, adj. & n. was revised in March 2021.

zip-up, adj. & n. was last modified in July 2023.