zepphttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zepp_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_useZepp, n.
Revised 2014

Zeppnoun

colloquial (now chiefly in historical contexts).
  1. 1.
    1914–
    1. [1910
      Zep's Balloon Burns... Count Zeppelin's large, dirigible balloon, Zeppelin VI, took fire today following an explosion and burned.
      Beatrice (Nebraska) Daily Sun 15 September 1/4]
    2. 1914
      Do you really think any of the ‘Zepps’ will ever reach London? I don't, for one, for there are searchlights and guns at different intervals along the coast.
      Indiana (Pennsylvania) Evening Gazette 23 November 2/3
    3. 1916
      The night those Zeps bombarded town.
      J. Pope, Simple Rhymes 40
    4. 1916
      A hostile raiding ‘Zepp.’
      Times Literary Supplement 27 January 40/3
    5. 1931
      The most interesting feature of our trip was a personally escorted tour of the entire Zep whilst crossing over France.
      Flight 28 August 855/1
    6. 1993
      We seed one Zepp, agen Birnigum, a big silver hull of a ‘boat’ in the moonlight.
      S. Stewart, Ramlin Rose iv. 31
  2. 2.
    1915–
    = Zeppelin n. 2. Usually in Zepps in a cloud and variants.
    1. 1915
      Aircraft Expert (whose fancy dictates sausages and mashed): Now then, Charlie, come on, pop about! Two Zepps an' a cloud!
      Tatler 17 March 4
    2. 1931
      I'll bring yer a spot o' coffee and a couple o' Zepps in a smoke screen.
      M. Allingham, Look to Lady i. 22
    3. 1940
      The coffee-stall..can supply on demand..not only sandwiches, but pies, tarts, biscuits, sausage rolls, eggs, ‘Zepps in a cloud’, chips.
      Life & Letters February 153
    4. 1979
      Canteen food wasn't bad—‘two Zepps in a cloud’ sausages and mash to you for tuppence ha'penny, mince and mash tuppence, beans a penny.
      R. Billington, Woman's Age iii. 82

Zepp, n. was revised in June 2014.

Zepp, n. was last modified in December 2024.