creeper

English

Etymology

creep +‎ -er

Slang usage derived from phrase "give the creeps" or "creep out" (distinct from givers from give, or merely one who creeps)

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -iːpə(r)

Noun

creeper (plural creepers)

1. A person or a thing who crawls or creeps.
   • Burton

     Standing waters are most unwholesome, […] full of mites, creepers; slimy, muddy, unclean.

2. Often in plural, a one-piece garment for infants designed to facilitate access to the wearer's diaper.
3. A device which allows a small child to safely roam around a room from a seated or standing position.
4. A metal plate with spikes, designed to be worn with shoes to prevent slipping.
5. A spur-like device strapped to the boot to facilitate climbing.
6. (chiefly in the plural) A small, low iron, or dog, between the andirons.
7. An instrument with iron hooks or claws for dredging up items from a well or other water.
8. Any device for causing material to move steadily from one part of a machine to another, such as an apron in a carding machine, or an inner spiral in a grain screen.
9. Any plant (as ivy or periwinkle) that grows by creeping; especially a climbing plant of the genus Parthenocissus.
   • 1964, William Golding, Lord of the Flies

     Then the piglet tore loose from the creepers and scurried into the undergrowth.

10. A treecreeper.
11. (nautical) A small, four-hooked grapnel used to recover objects dropped onto the sea bed.
12. The lowest gear of a tractor or truck, also creeper gear, creeper shift.
13. A low-profile, wheeled platform whereupon an auto mechanic may lie on their back and gain better access to the underbody of a vehicle.
14. (pejorative, slang) A person who creeps people out; a creepy person.

    Don't go to a nightclub to find a boyfriend. They're all creepers there.

Synonyms

• (one who crawls): crawler
• (garment): babygro, creepers, diaper shirt, infant bodysuit, snapsuit
• (wheeled platform): cradle

Translations

person or thing that creeps

• Finnish: konttaaja (fi) (crawler); ryömijä (fi) (creeper)

• Italian: persona che si trascina (it), persona che si muove furtivamente (it)

one-piece garment for infants

• Finnish: potkupuku (fi)

device for children

• Italian: girello (it)

metal plate for shoes

• Finnish: liukueste (fi)

plant

• Bulgarian: пълзящо растение (bg) (pǎlzjašto rastenie) n
• Finnish: köynnös (fi) (any creeper); villiviini (fi) (Parthenocissus)
• French: plante grimpante f

• Hungarian: kúszónövény (hu)
• Italian: pianta rampicante (it), pianta strisciante (it)
• Sanskrit: लता (sa) (latā) f

treecreeper — see treecreeper

grapnel

• Bulgarian: драга (bg) (draga) f
• Finnish: naara (fi)

• Hungarian: kotróhorgony (hu)
• Italian: raffio (it), rampino (it), ancorotto (it)

lowest gear

• Finnish: ryömintävaihde (fi)

wheeled platform