blimp
blimp Lexical Profile
blimp Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large, non-rigid airship without an internal structural framework or keel, which relies on the pressure of lifting gas to maintain its shape, commonly used for advertising or aerial observation.
"The television network hired a blimp to provide aerial coverage of the championship football game."
An informal and often derogatory term for a person who is significantly overweight.
"He spent his adolescence fearing that the other kids would call him a blimp if he didn't lose weight."
A soundproof cover or housing placed over a film or video camera to muffle its mechanical operating noise during recording.
"The sound recordist requested that the camera be placed in a blimp so its motor wouldn't ruin the quiet dialogue scene."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often used interchangeably with 'zeppelin' in casual conversation, but technically distinct; a blimp has no rigid internal framework and relies entirely on internal gas pressure to maintain its shape.
• Rhymes for blimp
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined during World War I, circa 1915. Its exact origin is disputed; a popular but unverified theory claims it derives from the military designation 'Type B-limp' (as opposed to rigid airships), while another attributes it to the sound made by snapping a finger against the envelope.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.