big dipper
UK /ˈbɪɡ ˈdɪpə/ · US /ˈbɪɡ ˈdɪpɚ/ noun, proper noun
Forms big dippers the Big Dipper
- noun A rollercoaster.
- proper noun (astronomy, especially US) A bright circumpolar asterism of the northern sky, said to resemble a ladle or cart, and a part of the constellation Ursa Major which includes the stars Mizar, Dubhe, and Alkaid. The other stars comprising it are Alioth, Megrez, Merak, and Phecda.
Synonyms
Charles' Wain Drinking Gourd Northern Ladle Northern Waggoner Plough Wain Wagon Great Wagon Bandwagon Saptarishi Saucepan triones Dipper Charles's Wain roller coaster chute-the-chute
Etymology
Probably from the name given to some rides, such as the Black Pool Big Dipper (1923).
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “big dipper”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details