tippet

noun tip·pet \ ˈti-pət \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of tippet

1 : a long hanging end of cloth attached to a sleeve, cap, or hood

2 : a shoulder cape of fur or cloth often with hanging ends

3 : a long black scarf worn over the robe by Anglican clergymen during morning and evening prayer

4 fishing : a short length of material (such as gut, nylon, or horsehair) attached at the thinnest end of a tapered leader (see leader 1e(2)) and used to secure an artificial fly

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Recent Examples of tippet from the Web

Steve Thomas, caught and released a huge 8-foot tarpon on a 12-pound tippet in just over 26 minutes using a tiny Sand Devil fly that his daughter had tied for him.

— steve waters, miamiherald, "This big tarpon is the main attraction for those wanting to fish in the Florida Keys | Miami Herald," 12 Apr. 2018
On this water, that means an ultra-light spinning rig spooled with 4- or 6-pound test line or a 4- or 5-weight fly rod/reel fit with floating line and a 3-5-pound tippet.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "Finding treasures on the upper Nueces," 21 Oct. 2017
Pope Jude Law has fifteen outfits, a fresh alb and tippet for each aspect of his mercurial personality.

— tad friend, The New Yorker, "The Spectacle of “The Young Pope”," 23 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tippet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.