zip-lipped, adj.

zip-lipped
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zip-lipped_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 2021

# zip-lippedadjective

## Factsheet

### What does the adjective zip-lipped mean?

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

### Where does the adjective zip-lipped come from?

Earliest known use

1940s

The earliest known use of the adjective zip-lipped is in the 1940s.

OED's earliest evidence for zip-lipped is from 1943, in Greenville (Ohio) Daily Advocate.

### Nearby entries

1. zip gun, n. 1914–
2. Ziph, n. 1834–
3. ziphian, n. & adj. 1896
4. ziphiiform, adj. 1891
5. ziphioid, adj. & n. 1861–
6. zipless, adj. 1922–
7. zip line, n. 1970–
8. zip line, v. 1998–
9. zipliner, n. 1993–
10. zip lining, n.?1983–
11. zip-lipped, adj.1943–
12. ziplock, n. 1928–
13. zipped, adj. 1931–
14. zippeite, n. 1850–
15. zipper, n. 1923–
16. zipper, v. 1927–
17. zippered, adj. 1926–
18. zipper foot, n. 1938–
19. zipperhead, n. 1967–
20. zipper problem, n. 1985–
21. Zippie, n.¹ 1968–

## Meaning & use

1. 1943–
   Having the lips tightly closed, esp. as a sign of suppressed emotion or determined reticence; (chiefly figurative) uncommunicative, determinedly reticent; cf. tight-lipped adj.
   1. 1943

      > War Department Zip-Lipped About Army-Navy Game... The War Department had 'no comment' today regarding published reports.

      Greenville (Ohio) Daily Advocate 23 July 5/3
   2. 1982

      > Stony-faced owners, zip-lipped owners..tend to have dull, disobedient dogs.

      B. Woodhouse, No Bad Dogs (1992) xii. 63
   3. 2019

      > Information about his two grandchildren is rationed... These are the zip-lipped instincts of a former KGB officer.

      Times (Nexis) 28 September (Sat. Review) 16
   1. dumb Old English–
      Intentionally silent; refraining from speech; declining to speak out (with connotations of being ineffectual or powerless); taciturn, reticent. Also…
   2. unspeaking a1382–
      Not speaking; unable to speak. Also figurative.
   3. speechless 1390–
      Refraining from speech; keeping or observing silence; silent. Also, reticent, taciturn.
   4. mute c1400–
      Of a person: unable to speak; unable to communicate through speech owing to a congenital or pathological condition. Now offensive.
   5. close a1425–
      Unwilling or reluctant to speak about something or openly express one's true thoughts, feelings, and motivations; reticent, secretive…
   6. silent a1425–
      Of a person: keeping or maintaining silence; refraining from or tending to refrain from speech or utterance; unable to speak.
   7. peaceable c1425–1826
      Not noisy or talkative; not restless; restrained or disciplined in behaviour. Obsolete.
   8. secret c1440–
      Of a person: †Reserved or reticent in conduct or conversation (obsolete); not given to indiscreet talking or the revelation of secrets; silent as…
   9. of few words a1500–
      of few words: not given to lengthy speaking, or to much speech; taciturn; laconic.
   10. tongue-tied 1529–
       figurative. Restrained or debarred from speaking or free expression from any cause; speechless, mute, dumb, silent; also reticent, reserved.
   11. mum 1532–
       colloquial. Strictly silent; mute; not saying a word. Esp. in to keep (also †play) mum: to remain silent, esp. so as not to reveal a secret…
   12. strait-laced 1546–1691
       figurative. Of persons: Shut up within oneself, uncommunicative, morose, unsympathetic. Obsolete.
   13. tongue-dumb 1556–
   14. incommunicable 1568–
       Not communicative; incommunicative.
   15. sparing 1568–
       Characterized by reticence or restraint in discourse or statement.
   16. inconversable 1577–
       Not conversable; †unsociable (obsolete); not disposed to converse, uncommunicative.
   17. retentive 1599–
       Restrictive of oneself in expressing something; restrained in speech or behaviour; reticent; reserved. Now rare.
   18. wordless 1604–
       Not expressed in words; unspoken, unuttered.
   19. mumbudget 1622–41
       Silent, mute; = mum, adj. Obsolete.
   20. uncommunicable 1628
       Uncommunicative. Obsolete. rare.
   21. monastic a1631–
       Resembling or suggestive of monks, their way of life, or their environment; austere, silent, secluded.
   22. word-bound 1644–
       Constrained or limited in respect of words; esp. unable to use words freely or fluently. Now rare.
   23. on (also upon) the reserve 1655–1855
       on (also upon) the reserve: (a) In a waiting attitude, in waiting; (b) reserved; reticent. Obsolete.
   24. strait-mouthed 1664
       Reticent, uncommunicative.
   25. oyster-like 1665–
       Resembling an oyster; esp. (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative (staying inside one's ‘shell’).
   26. incommunicative 1670–
       Not communicative; not disposed for intercourse or conversation; uncommunicative.
   27. mumchance 1681–
       Silent, mute; tongue-tied. Frequently in to sit (also stand, etc.) mumchance.
   28. taciturnous 1727
       = taciturn, adj.
   29. tongue-tacked 1727–
       = tongue-tied, adj. (literal and figurative).
   30. monosyllabic 1735–
       Of a person: speaking in monosyllables; uttering few or brief words, esp. as indicative of a reluctance to engage in conversation.
   31. silentish 1737–
       Almost silent; very quiet.
   32. untalkative 1739–
       (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
   33. silentious 1749–
       Given to silence; taciturn, reticent.
   34. buttoned-up 1767–
       Of a person: reluctant to reveal emotion or to express thoughts freely; reserved, inhibited, or formal in manner or disposition; unforthcoming…
   35. taciturn 1771–
       Characterized by silence or disinclination to conversation; reserved in speech; saying little; uncommunicative.
   36. close as wax 1772–
       Phrases: close as wax, tight as wax, neat as wax; to stick (to one) like wax; to fit like wax.
   37. untittletattling 1779–
       (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
   38. conventual 1789–
       Characteristic of, resembling, or suggestive of a convent, esp. in being austere, strict, secluded, silent, pure, etc. Cf. monastic, adj. A.2b.
   39. reticent 1825–
       Reluctant or disinclined to speak out or express personal thoughts and feelings freely; reserved in speech; given to silence or concealment.
   40. voiceless 1827–
       More generally: without a right or power to express feelings or opinions; silent.
   41. say-nothing 1838–
       In adjectives formed from the verb with an indefinite pronoun as object, as say-anything, say-nothing, etc., with the sense ‘that says —…
   42. unremonstrant 1841–
       Not remonstrant.
   43. still 1855–
       Silent. Habitually silent, taciturn. Phrase, to keep a still tongue in one's head.
   44. unvocal 1858–
       (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
   45. inexpansive 186.–
       Not expansive.
   46. non-communicating 1865–
       Not offering access from one place, area of interest, etc., to another.
   47. tight-lipped 1876–
       Having the lips firmly closed, esp. as a sign of determined suppression of emotion; also transferred and figurative. Also, determinedly reticent or…
   48. unworded 1886–
       Lacking words; silent. rare.
   49. chup 1896–
       Quiet, silent. Frequently in to keep chup: to be quiet; to avoid talking about something secret or controversial, ‘to keep mum’.
   50. tongue-bound 1906–
   51. shut-mouthed 1936–
   52. zip-lipped 1943–
       Having the lips tightly closed, esp. as a sign of suppressed emotion or determined reticence; (chiefly figurative) uncommunicative, determinedly…
   53. shtum 1958–
       Silent; quiet; not saying a word. Esp. in to keep (or stay) shtum.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. dern Old English–1540
      Of persons: Secret in purpose or action; reserved, close; hence, underhand, sly, crafty. Obsolete.
   2. covert 1340–1673
      Of persons: Not open, close, secretive; sly, deceitful. Obsolete.
   3. secre c1385–1412
      Of a person: Reserved or reticent in conduct or conversation; close, discreet.
   4. close a1425–
      Unwilling or reluctant to speak about something or openly express one's true thoughts, feelings, and motivations; reticent, secretive…
   5. secret c1440–
      Of a person: †Reserved or reticent in conduct or conversation (obsolete); not given to indiscreet talking or the revelation of secrets; silent as…
   6. mum 1532–
      colloquial. Strictly silent; mute; not saying a word. Esp. in to keep (also †play) mum: to remain silent, esp. so as not to reveal a secret…
   7. whist 1577–
      Keeping silence in relation to something; saying nothing about the matter.
   8. as silent as the grave 1613–
      as silent as the grave and variants: refraining from or not making any sound; (of a person) discreet, secretive; (of a place) hushed, completely…
   9. private a1625–1824
      Of a person: secretive, reticent; discreet, dependable in confidential matters. Obsolete.
   10. dark 1650–
       Of a person: secretive; inclined to conceal feelings or intentions; silent or reticent about a particular thing; not open. to keep dark about (somet…
   11. uncommunicating 1650–
       (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
   12. coy 1654–
       Affecting reluctance to provide information or further details (about a matter); not forthcoming.
   13. dry 1681
       Of persons: Miserly, stingy; reserved, uncommunicative. (Cf. A.I.4) Obsolete.
   14. uncommunicative 1691–
       (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
   15. unexpansive 1847–
       (un-, prefix¹ affix 1.)
   16. secretive 1853–
       Of persons, their feelings, habits, etc.: Addicted or inclined to secrecy; reticent; not frank or open.
   17. tight-lipped 1876–
       Having the lips firmly closed, esp. as a sign of determined suppression of emotion; also transferred and figurative. Also, determinedly reticent or…
   18. cagey 1909–
       Not forthcoming, reticent, wary, non-committal.
   19. zip-lipped 1943–
       Having the lips tightly closed, esp. as a sign of suppressed emotion or determined reticence; (chiefly figurative) uncommunicative, determinedly…
   20. closet 1948–
       Secret, covert; esp. not open about something concerning oneself which, if revealed, could cause problems or embarrassment. Sometimes ironic, with…
   21. tight 1977–
       Of such close texture or construction as to be impervious to a fluid, etc. transferred and figurative leading to 3. Uncommunicative; secret; spec. Oi…
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for zip, int. & n.¹

zip-lipped, adj. was first published in 2021.