flapper

/ˈflæpər/
noun
  1. A young woman in the 1920s who wore short dresses, had a bold and modern style, and challenged traditional social rules.
    • The flapper style included bobbed hair and short fringed dresses.
    • In the 1920s, flappers danced the Charleston and listened to jazz.
    • My grandmother was a flapper in her youth and loved going to speakeasies.
  2. A device or part that flaps, such as a hinged piece on a machine or a young bird learning to fly.
    • The flapper on the carburetor helps control the air-fuel mixture.
    • The flapper on the mailbox made a loud noise when it closed.
    • A young bird is called a flapper when it first tries to fly.
What does "flapper" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean