A "kip" has several meanings depending on the context: 1. Unit of Force or
Weight (Engineering):
A kip is a US customary unit of force equal to 1,000 pounds-force (lbf),
primarily used by structural engineers to express large forces more
conveniently. It simplifies calculations and documentation of structural loads
in construction and engineering. One kip is approximately 4,448.222 newtons
(N). Occasionally, it is also considered a unit of mass equal to 1,000 pounds,
though this usage is less common and mostly obsolete. The term "kip" comes
from combining "kilo" and "pound," and it is sometimes called a kilopound
. 2. Gymnastics Technique:
In artistic gymnastics, a kip is a fundamental skill involving flexing or
piking at the hips and then rapidly extending the hip joints to generate
momentum. It is commonly performed on apparatus like the women's uneven bars
and men's rings, parallel bars, and horizontal bar. The kip allows gymnasts to
swing from a hanging position to a front support position on the bar, serving
as a foundation for more advanced skills
. 3. Other Meanings:
- In British English slang, "kip" can mean to sleep or take a nap, or refer to a bed or lodging
- It is also the name of the currency unit of Laos (Lao kip)
In summary, the most common technical meaning of "kip" is a unit of force equal to 1,000 pounds-force used in engineering, and in gymnastics, it refers to a specific bar technique