Nip1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. NIPPED (nĭpt), less properly NIPT; p. pr. & vb. n. NIPPING.] [A-S. hnipan, to bend or cast down, Icel. hnippa, to strike against, hneppa, to bend, press, Goth. hniupan, to break, Sw. nyipa, nypa, to press with the fingers; Sw. knipa, Dan. knibe, id., Icel. knipa, to twist, D. knippen, to nip, clip, pinch, snap, knijpen, nijpen, to pinch, L. Ger. knipen, O. Ger. knyppen, nippen, H. Ger. kneipen, kneifen, to pinch, cut off, nip, kniff, a pinch, a nipping, knippen, to fillip, snap.]
Sense 1. To inclose and compress tightly between two surfaces or edges which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.
May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress. Tennyson.
Sense 2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of any thing; to clip; to cut off the end of.
The small shoots . . . must be nipped off. Mortimer.
Sense 3. Hence, to blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
Sense 4. To bite; to vex. “A nipping test for covetous men.” Latimer.
And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip. Spenser.
Sense 5. To satirize keenly; to taunt sarcastically. [Obs.]
To nip in the bud. To destroy at the very commencement of growth; to kill in the incipient stage; to cut off before development.