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kip¹

(kĭp)

n. pl. kip

See Table at currency.

[Lao kiip, hoof, kip (because ingots of sycee cast in a shape resembling the hoof of a horse or water buffalo were widely used as currency throughout Asia until the early 20th century); akin to Thai kip, hoof.]

kip²

(kĭp)

1. The untanned hide of a small or young animal, such as a calf.

2. A set or bundle of such hides.

[Middle English, bundle of animal hides, perhaps from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German.]

kip³

(kĭp) Chiefly British Slang

1. A rooming house.

2. A place to sleep; a bed.

3. Sleep.

intr.v. kipped, kip·ping, kips

To sleep.

[Perhaps from Danish kippe, cheap inn; akin to Old Norse -kippa (as in kornkippa, seed-corn holder) and Low German kiffe, hovel.]

kip⁴

(kĭp)

A unit of weight equal to 1,000 pounds (455 kilograms).

[KI(LO)- + P(OUND)¹.]

kip⁵

(kĭp)

A maneuver in gymnastics, martial arts, and similar sports in which a person moves from lying on the back directly to a standing position by thrusting the legs upward and pushing off with hands placed palms-down near the ears. Also called kip-up.

[German Kippe, seesaw, arm of a balance, kip-up, from kippen, to tilt, tip over, from Low German Kippe, point, tip, from Latin cippus, post, pillar.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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