Zippo

//ˈzɪpəʊ// adj, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Zero; none whatsoever. not-comparable, slang

    "“The whole situation is magnificent news, especially when the problem has been zippo investment by large corporations in Africa,” says Robert H. Bates[…]."

Noun
  1. 1
    Zero. Typically used for emphasis, as when the listener might expect a positive quantity. emphatic, informal, not-comparable

    "We got 200 consoles and we sold 200 consoles and 200 minus 200 is ZIPPO, so I can't sell you anything right now."

  2. 2
    A reusable lighter.

    "He was about to make the farewell flick of the wheel on his faithful Zippo, which had seen him through the Normany hedgerows, the Ardennes, Germany, and postwar America, when he heard a key in the front door, and voices."

  3. 3
    a quantity of no importance; thing (object:), singular, negative pronoun; pronoun, thing, singular; quantifier: negative existential wordnet
  4. 4
    A boat, tank, etc. equipped with flamethrowers. slang
Verb
  1. 1
    To light on fire. slang

    "I didn't want to burn 'em out, but that's policy. So we zippoed their hooch."

  2. 2
    Alternative spelling of zippo. alt-of, alternative

Etymology

Etymology 1

From zip + -o.

Etymology 2

From zip + -o.

Etymology 3

Popular slang among American soldiers in the Vietnam War; from the Zippo brand of lighter.

Etymology 4

Trade name for lighters, established in the 1930s.

Etymology 5

Trade name for lighters, established in the 1930s.

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