Zippo
/ˈzɪp.oʊ/noun
A brand of refillable metal cigarette lighter, especially one with a hinged lid.
Did you know?Zippo was chosen by the company’s founder, George G. Blaisdell, because he liked the sound of the word and its association with the then-new word “zipper.”
Etymological Timeline
1932
English
Zippo
“A coined brand name for a new windproof cigarette lighter”
20th Century
English
zip
“A quick movement or sharp sound; later also a fastener name”
1920s
English
zipper
“A slide fastener, named for its zipping sound”
Modern English
English
Zippo
“A proprietary name that became a common reference to the lighter itself”