A tool with a flat surface used to swat or drive away flying insects, typically consisting of a handle with a mesh or fabric square attached.
Compound of 'fly' (from Old English 'fleoge') and 'flapper' (from 'flap,' meaning to move back and forth). Emerged in the late 19th century as a practical household tool. The term combines the insect target with the action of the implement.
Flyflapper became especially popular during the 1920s when housewives used them as both practical tools and fashion statements—some were elaborately decorated and carried like accessories. Before electric bug zappers, the humble flyflapper was actually a sign of a clean, well-maintained home.
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