noun

kip

kihp

Kip (noun) means British informal: sleep, or a place to sleep. Example: “I'm off for a kip before the party.”

noun

British informal: sleep, or a place to sleep.

"I'm off for a kip before the party."

"He crashed on the sofa for a quick kip."

The basic monetary unit of Laos.

"Prices in the market were quoted in kip."

verb

British informal: to sleep, especially briefly or somewhere makeshift.

"We kipped at my cousin's place after the concert."

How to use kip

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMainly British slang for sleep or a nap; separately, the name of Laos's currency.

When to use it

The sleep sense is informal British/Australian English, rarely used in the US.

Common pairings

have a kip kip down a quick kip

Word forms

kipped past tense, kipped past tense, kipped past tense, kips plural, kips plural, kips plural, kips plural, kip plural, kips plural, Kips plural, kips singular, kips singular, kips singular

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Can you complete this real example?

I'm off for a _____ before the party.

Etymology

The "sleep" sense comes from Middle Dutch/Low German "kip," originally meaning a bundle of animal hides — likely linked to cheap, crowded lodging houses called "kip-houses."

Origin: German

Rhymes for kip

skip

See all rhymes for kip →

Frequently asked questions

What does “kip” mean?

The word “kip” means british informal: sleep, or a place to sleep. In plain terms, mainly British slang for sleep or a nap; separately, the name of Laos's currency.

How do you pronounce “kip”?

“Kip” is pronounced kihp (/kɪp/ in IPA).

How do you use “kip” in a sentence?

Here is “kip” used in a sentence: “I'm off for a kip before the party.”

What part of speech is “kip”?

Depending on how it is used, “kip” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “kip” come from?

The word “kip” comes from German. The "sleep" sense comes from Middle Dutch/Low German "kip," originally meaning a bundle of animal hides — likely linked to cheap, crowded lodging houses called "kip-houses.".

How many meanings does “kip” have?

“Kip” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: british informal: sleep, or a place to sleep.

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Vocabulary lists that include kip:

Words with German origins