skipper

¹ American  

[skip-er] / ˈskɪp ər /

noun

1. the master or captain of a vessel, especially of a small trading or fishing vessel.

2. a captain or leader, as of a team.

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verb (used with object)

1. to act as skipper of.

skipper ² American  

[skip-er] / ˈskɪp ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that skips.

2. any of various insects that hop or fly with jerky motions.

3. any of numerous quick-flying, lepidopterous insects of the family Hesperiidae, closely related to the true butterflies.

4. saury.

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skipper ¹ British  

/ ˈskɪpə /

noun

1. the captain of any vessel

2. the captain of an aircraft

3. a manager or leader, as of a sporting team

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verb

1. to act as skipper (of)

skipper ² British  

/ ˈskɪpə /

noun

1. a person or thing that skips

2. any small butterfly of the family Hesperiidae, having a hairy mothlike body and erratic darting flight

3. another name for saury

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Etymology

Origin of skipper¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle Dutch schipper, equivalent to schip ship ¹ + -er -er ¹

Origin of skipper²

1200–50; Middle English: locust. See skip ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

In the days that followed, Stokes' players protected him, restoring the smile to the skipper's face.

From BBC

Former skipper Joe Root was equally rapt to finally get a win on Australian soil, but acknowledged it came too late with the Ashes already lost.

From Barron's

On the eve of the match Australia skipper Steve Smith said the pitch was "quite furry, quite green" and predicted movement off the seam.

From BBC

Brydon Carse was wayward early, but tightened up his line and length to pose a threat, as did skipper Ben Stokes when he came on after lunch.

From Barron's

Following defeat in the third Test in Adelaide, which sealed England's fourth successive Ashes loss in Australia, Stokes said he "absolutely" wanted to remain skipper.

From BBC

Related Words

• captain
• sea captain