Definition of zip

The word "zip" originated in the late 19th century in the United States. Initially, it was used to describe the sound of a swift or sharp movement, similar to the "zip" of a whip cracking or the "zip" of a jacket closing. This sense of the word is often attributed to the noise made by the compressed air released from a clothes zip fastener. The word "zip" gained popularity in the early 20th century, particularly in the 1920s, when it began to be used as a verb, meaning to move quickly or suddenly. For example, "He zipped across the floor." This sense of the word is thought to have originated from the idea of an object or person moving rapidly, like a zipper moving swiftly along a seam. Since then, the word "zip" has evolved to encompass various meanings, such as a sense of speed or efficiency, like "This new software will zip through tasks in no time."