popper

¹

[pop-er]

noun

1. a person or thing that pops.

2. a utensil, as a covered pan, used for popping corn.

3. Angling.,  chugger.

4. a vial of amyl or butyl nitrite abused as a vasodilator for the effect of exhilaration.

Popper

²

[pop-er]

noun

1. Sir Karl (Raimund) 1902–1994, British philosopher, born in Austria.

popper

¹

/ ˈpɒpə /

noun

1. a person or thing that pops

2. an informal name for press stud

3. a container for cooking popcorn in

4. slang,  an amyl nitrite capsule, which is crushed and its contents inhaled by drug users as a stimulant

Popper

²

/ ˈpɒpə, pɒˈpɪərɪən /

noun

1. Sir Karl. 1902–94, British philosopher, born in Vienna. In The Logic of Scientific Discovery (1934), he proposes that knowledge cannot be absolutely confirmed, but rather that science progresses by the experimental refutation of the current theory and its consequent replacement by a new theory, equally provisional but covering more of the known data. The Open Society and its Enemies (1945) is a critique of dogmatic political philosophies, such as Marxism. Other works are The Poverty of Historicism (1957), Conjectures and Refutations (1963), and Objective Knowledge (1972)

Other Word Forms

• Popperian noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of popper¹

1740–50; pop ¹ + -er ¹; compare Middle English poppere a small dagger

Example Sentences

Reusable pads look similar to disposable ones but are usually made from cotton or bamboo and fasten around your underwear with poppers.

From BBC

The concert ended with the traditional programme of sea shanties and patriotic songs like Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory - as the audience waved flags, set off party poppers and waved stuffed toys.

From BBC

Continuing on the appetizers train, TJ’s Jalapeño & Cream Cheese Crispy Wontons are described as “a mix between a rangoon and jalapeño popper.”

From Salon

On Liquid Gold 25, named after a brand of poppers, they tackle the soul-crushing experience of queer dating apps like Grindr, singing: "This is where love comes to die."

From BBC

Although officially banned for human consumption by the FDA, poppers have been sold openly in thumb-sized bottles marketed — with a wink and a nod — as nail polish remover, liquid incense or VHS tape cleaner.

From Los Angeles Times