popper en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- [ˈpɒp.ɹ̩] (Canadian, Standard)
- /ˈpɒp.ɚ/ (Canadian, Standard)
- [ˈpɑ.pɹ̩] (General-American)
- /ˈpɔp.ə/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- audio Queensland
- /ˈpɑ.pɚ/ (General-American)
- /ˈpɒp.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English poppere, equivalent to pop + -er (suffix forming agent noun). Etymology 1 sense 8 ("capsule of amyl nitrite") is derived from the popping sound when the capsule is broken open; from which etymology 1 sense 9 also derives.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) One who or that which pops.
- (countable, uncountable) A short piece of twisted string tied to the end of a whip that creates the distinctive sound when the whip is thrown or cracked.
- (countable, uncountable) A floating lure designed to splash when the fishing line is twitched.
-
(countable, uncountable) Either of a pair of interlocking discs commonly used in place of buttons to fasten clothing, a snap fastener.
“Finished the last one at three this morning, apart from bits and bobs and poppers. Quite frankly, I'm dead!”
1970, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 124:
- (countable, uncountable) A device that pops kernels of corn to produce popcorn.
-
(countable, uncountable) A stuffed and usually breaded jalapeño.
You mix habs into the cheese before stuffing your poppers […]
2003, James D. Campbell, Mr. Chilehead: Adventures in the Taste of Pain, page 168:“Man, how long was I asleep? Those skeeto poppers really knocked me out.”
2022 July 13, Danielle Uhlarik, “The Rays That Turn People Into Various Things” (12:58 from the start), in Solar Opposites, season 3, episode 9, spoken by Halk Hogam (Sterling K. Brown):“What are those things you are always eating?” “Pizza bagels?” “No.” “Pizza rolls?” “No.” “Pizza poppers?” “No.” “Pizzaritos?” “No.” “Pizza pockets?” “That's it.”
2018 March 18, Andy Gosche, “Safe House” (8:08 from the start), in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, season 5, episode 12, spoken by Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg):“Where to, you crazy kids?” “Buffalo Wild Wings. It's all you can eat jalapeno poppers night.”
2012 April 25, Erik Richter, “Fools for Love” (20:37 from the start), in Ugly Americans, season 2, episode 17, spoken by Callie Maggotbone (Natasha Leggero):
-
(countable, uncountable) A looner (balloon fetishist) who prefers to burst balloons.
Looners (as they call themselves) can generally be divided into two categories, regardless of whether they prefer their balloon play with a partner or alone: poppers and non-poppers.
2019, Dennis DiClaudio, The Deviant's Pocket Guide to the Outlandish Sexual Desires Barely Contained in Your Subconscious, page 87:
-
(countable, informal) A capsule of amyl nitrite, a recreational drug used during sex.
I guess he was tricking with some other hustler a couple of days later and OD'd on one too many poppers—a heart attack in his sleep.
2002, Brendan Mullen, Don Bolles, Adam Parfrey, Lexicon Devil: The Fast Times and Short Life of Darby Crash and the Germs, page 195:Looks like she's had too many poppers.
1999, Greg Kramer, Hogtown Bonbons, page 8:When she heard Tuercas snap open a popper, she raised her own eyes instinctively. / His face was flushed red with the drug as he held the ampule to his nose
1999, Ted Mooney, Singing Into the Piano, page 328:Then, suddenly, Vince sagged — light-headed. Too many poppers.
1996, Patricia Nell Warren, Harlan's Race, page 58:Too low. Must get higher! He cracked open a popper, inhaling deeply. Then another. For a brief but thankful moment, a faint high lifted through him. He clicked on the Internet icon, then his email. At that moment the marijuana, coke, and amyl nitrite collided in his bloodstream.
2010, Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, Ghosted, page 130:Sucio paused in his dress-down of Barney's lineage, sexuality and potty habits to sample an amyl nitrate popper, which snapped his focus clear with cardiac paddle speed.
2008, David J. Schow, Gun Work, page 91:Against all this was the counter-rhythm of the hip-flask and the drugs, that steady resorting at every pause for breath, to the swig of the secret drinker; or, high in his excitement, the burst of a popper and then the sucking sound of Cullen inhaling.
1986, Stephen Koch, The Bachelors' Bride, page 240:If a person inhales a popper on the brink — the very brink — of climax, then the orgasm is much more powerful.
1986, Mary Bringle, The Senator's Daughter, page 55:The annex still stood, and from inside came the grunting sounds of Eskimos and GIs in rut. Lavone was sitting near Rudy. He cracked an amyl popper.
2002, John Griesemer, No One Thinks of Greenland:
-
(informal, uncountable) Amyl nitrate.
Maybe he has some popper—that's a gay drug, right? Nicholas Nugent should at least have some popper . . . Art, leaning into the gaggle. Nicholas Nugent, shaking his pretty head. No popper. Do you think it's possible to popper yourself gay?
2019, Lars Iyer, Nietzsche and the Burbs, page 38:Ryan knelt up in bed with his knees against Kick's side. "You okay?" Ryan asked. / "Too much popper," he said. “Maybe I have jet lag.
2005, Jack Fritscher, Some Dance to Remember: A Memoir-novel of San Francisco, 1970-1982, page 340:
- (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A dagger.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| poppers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
poppered · popper up · eye-popper · air popper · pill-popper · party popper · cherry-popper · toe popper · pill popper · finger-popper · pizza popper · K-popper · popcorn popper
Synonyms
cracker · snap fastener · snap · press stud
Translations (1)
cs patentka (snap fastener)