zippily, adv.

zippily
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zippily_adv%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2021

# zippilyadverb

## Factsheet

### What does the adverb zippily mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adverb zippily. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### Where does the adverb zippily come from?

Earliest known use

1920s

The earliest known use of the adverb zippily is in the 1920s.

OED's earliest evidence for zippily is from 1924, in Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Republican.

### Nearby entries

1. zipped, adj. 1931–
2. zippeite, n. 1850–
3. zipper, n. 1923–
4. zipper, v. 1927–
5. zippered, adj. 1926–
6. zipper foot, n. 1938–
7. zipperhead, n. 1967–
8. zipper problem, n. 1985–
9. Zippie, n.¹ 1968–
10. zippie, n.² 1986–
11. zippily, adv.1924–
12. zippiness, n. 1907–
13. zipping, n. 1868–
14. Zippo, n.¹ 1944–
15. zippo, n.² 1973–
16. zippy, adj. 1889–
17. zip tie, n. 1969–
18. zip-tie, v. 1985–
19. zip top, n. 1926–
20. zip-up, adj. & n. 1927–
21. zip wire, n. 1971–

## Meaning & use

colloquial (originally U.S.).

1. 1924–
   In a zippy manner; quickly, with great energy or liveliness.
   Stressed as ˈzippily.
   1. 1924

      > The action moves zippily, amusingly, with good tempo.

      Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Republican 3 October (Final edition) 14/2
   2. 1983

      > The piece is zippily staged..and sung with immense liveliness.

      Times 10 June 17/6
   3. 2010

      > The language..is zippily vivid, demonically comic, a whirling, garish fairground of verbal inventiveness.

      Daily Telegraph 21 May 36/1
   U.S. English colloquial and slang
   1. cofe Old English–1340
      Quickly, sharply, eagerly, promptly; soon.
   2. snelly Old English–
      In a snell manner; quickly, smartly, severely, etc.
   3. swiftly Old English–
      With great speed or velocity; at a great rate; = quickly, adv. 2c.
   4. whatliche Old English–1250
      Quickly.
   5. yerne Old English–1530
      Quickly, swiftly, rapidly, fast, briskly, at a great rate.
   6. yeverly Old English–1540
      a. Greedily; b. quickly, promptly.
   7. skeet c1175–1500
      Quickly, hastily, immediately.
   8. whate c1175–1400
      Quickly.
   9. lightly?c1225–
      With easy movement, nimbly, effortlessly, gracefully. †In early use: quickly, swiftly; immediately, at once (obsolete).
   10. tidely c1225–1600
       Quickly, speedily; soon. Cf. titely, adv.
   11. fastly c1275–
       At a fast speed; quickly, rapidly. Formerly also: †readily (obsolete). Cf. fast, adv. A.II.7a, A.II.8.
   12. swith c1275–
       At a rapid rate, very quickly, swiftly, rapidly. Now archaic or dialect.
   13. fast c1300–
       With great speed; quickly, rapidly, swiftly. Describing the rate of progress of a movement, action, or process, or indicating that an action or…
   14. quick c1300–
       Rapidly, at a fast rate; (also) without delay, at once; = quickly, adv. 2. See also get-rich-quick, adj., kiss-me-quick, n., PDQ, adv.
   15. tite c1300–
       Quickly, soon; (also) straightaway, immediately; without delay or intermission.
   16. quickly a1325–
       Rapidly; with haste or speed. Describing the rate of progress of a movement, action, or process, without consideration of the time at which it begins…
   17. rad a1325–
       Quickly, readily, soon. Cf. rathe, adv. Now Scottish (north-eastern).
   18. snell c1330–
       Quickly, promptly, swiftly.
   19. titely c1330–1540
       Quickly; soon; (also) immediately; straightaway. Cf. tite, adv.
   20. swithly?1370–1600
       = swith, adv. 3, 4.
   21. hastly a1375–1778
       Speedily, quickly; (also) shortly; suddenly; = hastily, adv. 1.
   22. ketly a1375
       Quickly, hastily.
   23. kete c1380
       Boldly, bravely; quickly.
   24. speedly c1380–1619
       = speedily, adv.
   25. speedfully 1398–
       a. Speedily, quickly. b. Effectively.
   26. keenly a1400–00
       Sharply, quickly, in haste. Obsolete.
   27. skeetly a1400–50
   28. speedily a1400–
       In a speedy manner; with speed or celerity; quickly.
   29. swift c1400–
       = swiftly, adv. 1.
   30. yederly c1400
       Quickly.
   31. apace a1423–
       literal. At a pace, i.e. at a considerable or good pace; hence, With speed; swiftly, quickly, fast. Of speed or progress in any action.
   32. rash a1475–
       = rashly, adv. (in various senses). Now rare.
   33. runningly c1475–
       In a rapid or hasty manner; swiftly, quickly; cursorily, superficially.
   34. speedful?c1480–
       Quasi-adv. Speedily, quickly.
   35. rackly?a1500
       Rapidly, impetuously.
   36. rashly 1533–
       Quickly, rapidly, hurriedly. Now rare (chiefly English regional in later use).
   37. stiffly 1535
       In a stiff manner; so as to be stiff; (in various senses of the adjective).
   38. roundly 1548–
       Rapidly, briskly, promptly. Now archaic and rare (in later use chiefly Nautical).
   39. post 1549–
       With verbs of motion (originally and chiefly to ride): with post-horses, by means of the post, express; (hence) with speed or haste. Also figurative…
   40. fleet 1587–
       Quasi-adv. Quickly, swiftly. poetic.
   41. fleetly 1598–
       Swiftly, quickly; also in combinations, as fleetly-mounted.
   42. speedy 1601–
       Quasi-adv. Speedily.
   43. raptly 1646
       Quickly. Obsolete.
   44. fastish a1650–
       Somewhat or moderately quickly or rapidly; with some speed; with little delay or hesitation.
   45. wingedly 1651–
   46. rapidly 1653–
       In a rapid manner, with rapidity; swiftly, quickly.
   47. rapid 1677–
       Rapidly, with rapidity.
   48. velociously 1680–
   49. express 1765
       For a particular aim, goal, or object; specially; on purpose, deliberately; (hence) with speed, (very) quickly.
   50. quicklike 1782–
       In a quick or rapid manner; quickly.
   51. spankingly 1803–
       At a spanking pace; in a rapid and smart manner.
   52. spankily 1842–
       Spankingly.
   53. fleetingly 1883–
   54. quick-foot 1891
       Swiftly, in haste; = on the quick-foot at sense C Obsolete.
   55. on the quick-foot 1894–
       on the quick-foot: swiftly, in haste; = sense B
   56. zippily 1924–
       In a zippy manner; quickly, with great energy or liveliness.
   57. hare-foot 1939–
       Used adverbially: swiftly. poetic.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. fast Old English–1571
      In extended use (chiefly with other types of verb), in which fast is characterized as much by its… With verbs expressing forceful action or energetic…
   2. hard Old English–
      With a great deal of effort, energy, or force; strenuously, vigorously; assiduously; fiercely; (in early use occasionally) intensely, profoundly…
   3. hardly Old English–
      With energy, force, or strenuous exertion; vigorously; violently. Now archaic and rare.
   4. starkly Old English–
      Strongly, powerfully, with force; stoutly, boldly; strenuously. Also: harshly, sternly, strictly. Now rare (Scottish in later use).
   5. strong Old English–
      gen. In the positive degree.
   6. stalworthly c1175–1507
      Stoutly, strongly, etc.
   7. stark c1225–
      Strenuously, vigorously, hard; boldly, stoutly; firmly, strongly; (in later use) plainly, bluntly. Now rare (chiefly Scottish in later use).
   8. mainly c1300–1656
      Of physical action: with force, vigour, or violence; mightily, vigorously, violently. Obsolete.
   9. fell c1330–1915
      In a fell manner; cruelly, fiercely, harshly; eagerly, vigorously. Obsolete.
   10. snell c1330–
       Vigorously, strongly, keenly, etc.
   11. stout 1338–
       = stoutly, adv. Now rare. †to bear oneself stout: to behave haughtily or defiantly.
   12. wightly a1340–
       Bravely, boldly, valiantly, ‘stoutly’; strongly, vigorously, forcibly, powerfully, energetically.
   13. sadly a1375–1500
       Resolutely; with sustained vigour; hardily. Obsolete.
   14. sharply c1380–
       Of conflict or attack: Eagerly, vigorously.
   15. tough 1398–1827
       Vigorously, stoutly; persistently. Obsolete.
   16. stoutly 1399–
       Vigorously, with might and main, lustily. ? Obsolete.
   17. thro a1400–1508
       Obstinately; vigorously; boldly.
   18. wight a1400–
       Actively, nimbly, energetically; quickly, rapidly, swiftly. Obsolete or dialect.
   19. lustily c1400–
       With vigour or energy; vigorously, energetically; with a will, heartily, cheerfully. Now said only of physical activity.
   20. sore c1400–
       With great force or vigour; strongly.
   21. vigoursly c1400–50
       Vigorously.
   22. stiff 1422–
       Stiffly, firmly, tightly, hard, etc. Phrase, to give it to someone (pretty) stiff: to speak severely to, to rate.
   23. vigoriously a1450–1602
   24. vigorously a1450–
       In a vigorous manner; with vigour or energy; by means of vigorous action, measures, etc.; actively and strongly.
   25. actually a1470
       Actively, energetically. Obsolete.
   26. stourly c1480–
       Scottish. Fiercely, violently; stoutly, vigorously.
   27. forcely?a1500–1600
       By or with force or power, vigorously, violently.
   28. lustly 1529–46
       Lustily, vigorously.
   29. frickly c1540
   30. dingily a1555
       Perhaps: vehemently or with force.
   31. livelily?1565–
       In a lively manner; = lively, adv. (in various senses).
   32. crankly 1566–
       In a ‘crank’ manner; lustily, briskly, boldly, etc.
   33. forcibly 1578–
       With powerful effect, energetically, strongly, vigorously; also, convincingly.
   34. crank 1579–94
       Boldly, briskly, lustily. Obsolete.
   35. wightily?a1600
       = wightly, adv.
   36. proudly 1600
       With an aspect or manner suggesting pride; grandly, magnificently, splendidly; in a dignified manner; with vigour or force, spiritedly, exuberantly.
   37. energetically 1609–
       In an energetic manner; with (great) energy.
   38. stiffly 1623
       In a stiff manner; so as to be stiff; (in various senses of the adjective).
   39. ding-dong 1628–
       colloquial. In a vigorous or determined manner; (later) esp. (with reference to a contest, fight, dispute, etc.) with a rapid or furious exchange…
   40. greenly 1633–
       figurative (with allusion to growing vegetation). Freshly, vigorously, youthfully.
   41. hard and fast 1646–
       With great energy or effort; vigorously, diligently. Also in later use: wildly, without restraint.
   42. slashingly 1659–
       In a slashing manner; vigorously; severely.
   43. thwackingly 1660–
   44. warmly a1684–
       With reference to attack or defence: Fiercely, vigorously.
   45. cut and thrust 1703–1859
       In a manner characterized by cut and thrust; vigorously. Obsolete.
   46. robustly 1709
       In a robust manner; strongly.
   47. sonsily 1729–
       Heavily; palpably; amply. Also: in an attractive or appealing manner.
   48. forcefully a1774–
   49. vim 1843–
       Force or vigour, energy, ‘go’. †Also as adv., vigorously, sharply.
   50. kinkily 1876–98
       U.S. regional (New England). In a sprightly, lively, or energetic manner. Cf. kinky, adj. A.3. Obsolete.
   51. zippily 1924–
       In a zippy manner; quickly, with great energy or liveliness.
   52. vibrantly 1926–
   53. punchily 1934–
       In a punchy manner; forcefully, effectively; vigorously.
   54. zingily 1951–
       In a zingy manner; invigoratingly, energetically; with a zesty or piquant flavour. Cf. zingingly, adv.
   55. dumb hard 2008–
       With a great deal of effort, energy, or force.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for zippy, adj.

zippy, adj. was revised in March 2021.