slapper

Slapper is a term with multiple meanings in English, spanning mechanical devices, slang usage, and computing. Its precise meaning depends on the context in which it is used.

In mechanical and industrial contexts, a slapper is a device or component that delivers a quick, slapping action. This can involve a spring-loaded hammer or similar actuator used to strike a surface for purposes such as impact testing, material characterization, or stamping. In stage or film production, a slapper can refer to a prop or mechanism designed to produce a short, sharp slap as part of a special effect or slapstick routine.

In informal or slang usage, a slapper can describe a person who slaps or a performer who uses slapping humor as part of their act. The term is casual and highly dependent on regional slang, and it is not a standardized title or profession.

In computing and cybersecurity, Slapper has appeared as the name of one or more self-propagating programs or malware reported in historical security literature. The term is used to reference early network-based threats and is discussed as a case study in the evolution of worm-like software and propagation techniques.

Etymologically, slapper derives from the verb slap combined with the agent suffix -er, indicating something or someone that performs a slapping action. See also slap, slapstick, and related terms.