Ornithology. Also called water ouzel. any small, stocky diving bird of the family Cinclidae, related to the thrushes, especially Cinclus aquaticus of Europe and C. mexicanus of western North America, having dense, oilyplumage and frequenting rapid streams and rivers.
South Midland and Southern U.S.a person who uses snuff.
Origin of dipper
1350–1400;Middle English: diving bird; see dip1, -er1
Little Dipper
nounAstronomy.
the group of seven bright stars in Ursa Minor resembling a dipper in outline.
Origin of Little Dipper
First recorded in 1835–45
Also called Dipper.
Big Dipper
nounAstronomy.
the group of seven bright stars in Ursa Major resembling a dipper in outline.
Also called: water ouzelany aquatic songbird of the genus Cinclus and family Cinclidae, esp C. cinclus. They inhabit fast-flowing streams and resemble large wrens
the Little DipperUS and Canadiana small faint constellation, the brightest star of which is the Pole Star, lying 1° from the true celestial poleAlso known as: Ursa Minor, the Bear, the Little Bear
big dipper
noun
(in amusement parks) a narrow railway with open carriages that run swiftly over a route of sharp curves and steep inclinesAlso called: roller coaster
late 14c., as a type of diving bird, agent noun from dip (v.). As a ladle or long-handled utensil for drawing liquid, from 1783, chiefly American English. As the popular U.S. name for the asterism known in Britain as The Plough or Charles' Wain, attested by 1833.
Big Dipper
n.
American English name for the seven-star asterism (known in England as the plough; see Charles's Wain) in the constellation Ursa Major, first attested 1833 as simply the Dipper (sometimes Great Dipper, its companion constellation always being the Little Dipper). See dipper.
A constellation in the northern sky. The two stars on the far end of the bowl of the dipper point toward the North Star. The Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear).
