A zipper is a fastening device made of two rows of teeth that can be opened or closed by pulling a slider. It is used on clothes, bags, and many other items.
“Zipper” comes from a brand name used by the B.F. Goodrich Company in the early 1900s, based on the “zip” sound the fastener makes. The onomatopoeic name quickly became the common word.
“Zipper” is a perfect example of sound becoming word—the name tries to copy the noise of the device at work. It also shows how brand names can escape their labels and become everyday language.
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