nip

¹

[ nip ]

verb (used with object)

, nipped, nip·ping.

1. to squeeze or compress tightly between two surfaces or points; pinch; bite.
2. to take off by pinching, biting, or snipping (usually followed by off ):

   He nipped off a piece of steak and gave it to the dog.

3. to check in growth or development.
4. to affect sharply and painfully or injuriously, as a very cold temperature:

   a cold wind that nips the fingers.

   Synonyms: chill, cut, pierce, bite, freeze

5. Informal. to snatch away suddenly.
6. Informal. to defeat (an opponent) by a very close margin; edge out.
7. Informal. to steal or pilfer.
8. Nautical.
   1. (of ice) to press (a ship) from opposite sides.
   2. to seize (a taut rope) to another rope.

verb (used without object)

, nipped, nip·ping.

1. Chiefly British Slang. to leave stealthily; sneak away; flee (often followed by away ).

noun

1. an act of nipping; a pinch or small bite:

   The dog took several nips at our heels.

2. a biting quality, as in cold or frosty air:

   There's a nip in the air this morning.

3. sharp cold; a sharp touch of frost:

   The trees had felt the first nip of winter.

4. a sharp or biting remark.
5. a biting taste or tang, especially in some cheese.
6. a small bit or quantity of anything:

   a nip of bread to stave off hunger.

7. Nautical.
   1. an abrupt turn or twist in a rope.
   2. a part of a rope or chain bound by a seizing or nipper.
8. Usually nips. nipper ( def 2 ).

nip

²

[ nip ]

noun

1. a small drink of alcoholic liquor; sip:

   a person who relishes an occasional nip.

2. Chiefly British. split ( def 27 ).

verb (used with or without object)

, nipped, nip·ping.

1. to drink (alcoholic liquor) in small sips, especially repeatedly.

Nip

³

[ nip ]

noun

, Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Japanese person.

nip

¹

/ nɪp /

noun

1. a small drink of spirits; dram
2. a measure of spirits usually equal to one sixth of a gill

verb

1. to drink (spirits), esp habitually in small amounts

Nip

²

/ nɪp /

noun

1. slang.
   a derogatory word for a Japanese

nip

³

/ nɪp /

verb

1. to catch or tightly compress, as between a finger and the thumb; pinch
2. often foll by off to remove by clipping, biting, etc
3. whenintr, often foll by at to give a small sharp bite (to)

   the dog nipped at his heels

4. (esp of the cold) to affect with a stinging sensation
5. to harm through cold

   the frost nipped the young plants

6. to check or destroy the growth of (esp in the phrase nip in the bud )
7. slang.
   to steal
8. informal.
   intr; foll by along, up, out, etc to hurry; dart
9. slang.
   to snatch

noun

1. the act of nipping; a pinch, snip, etc
2. 1. a frosty or chilly quality
   2. severe frost or cold

      the first nip of winter

3. a small piece or quantity

   he went out for a nip of fresh air

4. a sharp flavour or tang
5. archaic.
   a taunting remark
6. nip and tuck
   1. neck and neck
   2. plastic surgery performed for cosmetic reasons
7. put the nips in slang.
   to exert pressure on someone, esp in order to extort money

Sensitive Note

This term, patterned on the earlier term Jap , was first used in English shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nip¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English nippen, nipe(n), nip “to bite, pinch,” from Old Norse hnippa “to poke, thrust”

Origin of nip²

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Dutch nippen “to sip”; nip ²indef 2, short for earlier nipperkin “vessel holding half-pint or less”

Origin of nip³

First recorded in 1942; short for Nipponese

Word History and Origins

Origin of nip¹

C18: shortened from nipperkin a vessel holding a half-pint or less, of uncertain origin; compare Dutch nippen to sip

Origin of nip²

C20: short for Nipponese

Origin of nip³

C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse hnippa to prod

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. nip and tuck, with each competitor equaling or closely contesting the speed, scoring, or efforts of the other:

   It was nip and tuck as to which sailboat would reach port first.

2. nip in the bud. bud ¹( def 13 ).

Example Sentences

They’ve watched their country open up to the world and their factories propel its economy, which nips at the heels of the United States as the world’s largest.

From BBC

Biden was at his peak back then and probably would have beaten Trump, nipping his political career in the bud.

From Los Angeles Times

Woakes produced the sensational start, finding a crack for the ball to keep low and nip back.

From BBC

It’s packed with jagged guitar lines and fiery melodies that nip hungrily at your earlobes.

From BBC

It was the Australian’s overtaking move at the second chicane that allowed Charles Leclerc to nip ahead of Norris and started the sequence of events that led to the Ferrari driver winning.

From BBC

Related Words

• nibble
• snap