Tip his flipper

Subject: RE: Tip his flipper
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 09:35 PM

"She winked & flipped her flipper" waved. Barry

Subject: RE: Tip his flipper
From: Gary T
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 03:15 PM

That's "...like to USE sea-related terms..." Whoops!

Subject: RE: Tip his flipper
From: Gary T
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 03:12 PM

In "Blow the Man Down", part of one verse says (after meeting a lady on the street) "I hailed her with me flipper and took her in tow......and yardarm to yardarm away we did go." I figure this has to mean "I waved to her, took her in hand, and we walked off arm in arm." I guess some sailors like to sea-related terms whenever they get a chance!

Subject: RE: Tip his flipper
From: Kim C
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 01:34 PM

I asked Mister's uncle, a former Navy man, about this some time ago. He seemed to think that it meant to wave one's hand, which makes sense. It sounds good in the shanties but sounds a little funny in Shenandoah! (That's not the version we do.) But considering Shenandoah had some life as a sea song, according to Stan Hugill, it works.

Subject: RE: Tip his flipper
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 12:49 PM

I am not "nautical", but when whales, dolphins, etc. tip their flippers, they are diving, and it could be construed to mean waving Good-bye.............?

Subject: RE: Tip his flipper
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 12:39 PM

............uh,huh........................

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tip his flipper
From: Mbo
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 12:35 PM

Since they are both songs of the sea, could it possibly be a nautical term?

--Matt

Subject: RE: Tip his flipper
From: IanC
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 12:33 PM

A similar phrase occurs in "Paddy Lay Back". I've always assumed it meant moving your hand/arm in some way.

"I tipped me flipper and wiped away a tear"

Could be wrong!

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: Tip his flipper
From:
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 12:18 PM

Who can tell me what "tipped his flipper" mean in Shennandoa?

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