pip-squeak en · NOUN
Etymology
Onomatopoeic from pip + squeak. Cited as early as 1900, the term originally referred to a small artillery shell. In later uses, it became largely onomatopoeic, influenced in part by popular culture, including the comic strip Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
Meanings
-
(derogatory, informal) A small and insignificant person.
From day one, I was the school pipsqueak.
2015, David Spade, Almost Interesting: The Memoir, HarperCollins, →ISBN:
- (historical) A form of radio-based navigation used by the British Air Force immediately preceding the development of radar.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| pip-squeaks | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| pipsqueak | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Descendants
Translations (15)
bg нищожество (small and insignificant person) · cmn 小人物 (small and insignificant person) · nl opdonder (small and insignificant person) · is peð (small and insignificant person) · pl leszcz (small and insignificant person) · ru ничто́жество (small and insignificant person) · de Winzling (small and insignificant person) · fr foutriquet (small and insignificant person) · de Würstchen (small and insignificant person) · de Niemand (small and insignificant person) · ja ちび (small and insignificant person) · pl cienias (small and insignificant person) · fi hiirulainen (small and insignificant person) · de Pinscher (small and insignificant person) · it microbo (small and insignificant person)
wikipedia: Pip, Squeak and Wilfred · wikipedia: pipsqueak (radio)