Etymology

Of uncertain origin. The Oxford English Dictionary writes that it may have been coined (perhaps by J. R. R. Tolkien) around 1910 from the name of T. W. Earp. However, the Dictionary of American Slang writes that it was in use in 1874. It may be a form of dwarf (compare Middle English dwerf, Low German Twarg). It may derive from the onomatopoeia twirp. The word was used to denote a type of racing pigeon that flew between Antwerp and London c. 1870 [see "The Odd Facts of Life" – Bill Hooper, published in 1965].i. It may also be related to the Welsh twp , a fool.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /twɝp/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /twɜːp/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)p