fender vs flipper

fender

noun
  • any shaped cushion-like object normally made from polymers, rubber or wood that is placed along the sides of a boat to prevent damage when moored alongside another vessel or jetty, or when using a lock, etc. Modern variations are cylindrical although older wooden version and rubbing strips can still be found; old tyres are used as a cheap substitute 

  • a low metal framework in front of a fireplace, intended to catch hot coals, soot, and ash 

  • panel of a car which encloses the wheel area, especially the front wheels 

  • a shield, usually of plastic or metal, on a bicycle that protects the rider from mud or water 

verb
  • To use fenders to protect the side of a boat 

flipper

noun
  • A flat, wide, paddle-like rubber covering for the foot, used in swimming. 

  • Television remote control, clicker. 

  • A type of ball bowled by a leg spin bowler, which spins backwards and skids off the pitch with a low bounce. 

  • A flat lever in a pinball machine, triggered by the player to strike the ball and keep it in play. 

  • A kind of false tooth, usually temporary. 

  • A small flat used to support a larger one. 

  • Someone who flips, in the sense of buying a house or other asset and selling it quickly for profit. 

  • Someone who flips in any other sense, for example throwing a coin. 

  • In marine mammals such as whales, a wide flat limb, adapted for swimming. 

  • A kitchen spatula. 

verb
  • To lift one or both flippers out of the water and slap the surface of the water. 

How often have the words fender and flipper occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )