flip-flap
Preserved but no longer current.
A peculiar rollicking dance indulged in by costermongers when merry or excited—better described, perhaps, as the "double-shuffle" danced with an air of extreme abandon. Also, a kind of somersault, in which the performer throws himself over on his hands and feet alternately.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “flip-flap” mean?
A peculiar rollicking dance indulged in by costermongers when merry or excited—better described, perhaps, as the "double-shuffle" danced with an air of extreme abandon. Also, a kind of somersault, in which the performer throws himself over on his hands and feet alternately.
Is “flip-flap” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.