Whippersnapper

[divan]

Why are young upstarty types known as whippersnappers?

[incitatus]

Its an 18th century contraction (or rather alteration ) of the 16th century term snippersnapper. Which is very unhelpful as the etymology of snippersnapper is doubtful. I veer towards the opinion that it is by refernece to saplings....young trees that are flexible and whip or snap in the breeze....

[ravenhair]

Whippersnappers were first known as "whip snappers" (in the 17th century, I believe); this came from their habit of standing around street corners all day, snapping whips to pass the time. The term was based on "snipper-snapper," which already existed, but in any case, "whip snapper" very quickly became "whippersnapper".