Definition

A flat piece of material attached near the wheels of a vehicle to stop mud and dirt from splashing onto the body of the vehicle.

Example

The truck had a new mudflap installed to keep the paint clean.

Conversation

Have you ever noticed how important a mudflap is on a truck?

Yeah, it really helps keep the dirt from splashing everywhere.

Exactly! Without a mudflap, the truck would look so messy.

True, and it would probably make driving a lot more difficult too.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mudflap is formed from "mud" (from Old English "mudd", meaning wet earth or soft soil) and "flap" (from Middle English "flappe", meaning to move or swing loosely). The word "mudflap" refers to a flexible piece that hangs down to protect against mud splashes from vehicles.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mud' as wet earth and 'flap' as something that swings down — a mudflap is a piece that hangs down to keep mud from splashing.

Visually Confused Words