creeper

[kree-per] /ˈkri pər/
noun
1.
a person or thing that creeps.
2.
Botany. a plant that grows upon or just beneath the surface of the ground, or upon any other surface, sending out rootlets from the stem, as ivy and couch grass.
3.
Often, creepers. a one-piece garment for an infant, the lower portion resembling briefs and having snaps or buttons across the crotch for convenience in diapering.
4.
Chiefly Northeastern U.S. a spiked iron plate worn on the shoe to prevent slipping on ice, rock, etc.
5.
Also called cradle. Automotive. a flat framework on casters, on which a mechanic lies while working under an automobile or the like.
6.
Ornithology. any of various birds that creep or climb about on trees, especially of the family Certhiidae, as Certhia americana (brown creeper or tree creeper) of the Northern Hemisphere.
7.
a domestic fowl having malformed, short legs, due to a genetic defect.
8.
a grappling device for dragging a river, lake, etc.
9.
Also, creep. Slang. a sneak thief.
10.
Slang. a person who makes persistent sexual advances toward someone, or who cheats on a sexual partner.
11.
Slang. creep (def 18).
12.
Slang. a person who follows someone persistently or stealthily; a stalker.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English crepere, Old English crēopere. See creep, -er1
Examples from the web for creeper
  • The head and upper part of the body were hidden by a tangle of creeper.
  • The brown creeper is quite vocal, but its high-pitched vocalizations are easily missed.
British Dictionary definitions for creeper

creeper

/ˈkriːpə/
noun
1.
a person or animal that creeps
2.
a plant, such as the ivy or periwinkle, that grows by creeping
3.
(US & Canadian) Also called tree creeper. any small songbird of the family Certhiidae of the N hemisphere, having a brown-and-white plumage and slender downward-curving bill. They creep up trees to feed on insects
4.
a hooked instrument for dragging deep water
5.
Also called cradle. a flat board or framework mounted on casters, used to lie on when working under cars
6.
(cricket) Also called daisy cutter. a bowled ball that keeps low or travels along the ground
7.
either of a pair of low iron supports for logs in a hearth
8.
(informal) a shoe with a soft sole
Word Origin and History for creeper
n.

Old English creopera "one who creeps," agent noun from creep (v.). Also see creep (n.). Meaning "lice" is from 1570s; of certain birds from 1660s; of certain plants from 1620s.

Slang definitions & phrases for creeper

creeper

noun
  1. The lowest gear on a truck (1930s+ Truckers)
  2. A performer who moves closer and closer to the microphone (1940s+ Radio studio)
  3. A sneak thief: He knew they couldn't be boosters or creepers, not flashing their bread the way these two were doing (1930s+ Underworld)

Encyclopedia Article for creeper

any of various small birds that hug tree trunks or rock surfaces as they move about while feeding. The following are songbirds (suborder Passeres; order Passeriformes):

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