slapper

[missmooncat]

whetre does the word slapper come from?does it mean slapping on makeup?

[Quizmonster]

As long ago as the late 1700s, a 'slapper' was anything large or overgrown. It later came to be applied especially to women fitting that description. Over time, it came to refer to a woman for almost anything pejorative about her...size, behaviour, morals or whatever.

[jno]

can you take that any further back QM? why would something big be called a slapper?

[Quizmonster]

One of the earliest references, Jno, was to a large salmon...in much the same way the earliest references to 'flappers' were to birds (feathery ones). Easy enough to see, I think, why such a thing as a salmon would be called a 'slapper'...ie it flops and wallops around after being caught. Similarly, presumably, large ladies were considered to be such as 'flopped' and 'walloped' around as well!

[jno]

hmmm... very ornate. Thanks QM

[Elliem]

I thought it was linked to a lady of loose morals, i.e. bodies slapping together?!  So what do you call a man of loose morals?