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verb (used with object), nipped, nip·ping.
  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.
  5. Informal. to snatch away suddenly.
  6. Informal. to defeat (an opponent) by a very close margin; edge.
  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).
  4. a sharp or biting remark.
  5. a biting taste or tang, especially in some cheese.
  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).
  2. nip in the bud. bud1(def 13).

Origin of nip1

1350–1400; Middle English nyppe to pinch < Old Norse hnippa to poke, thrust


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4. freeze, bite, pierce, cut, chill.


  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.

Origin of nip2

1690–1700; < Dutch nippen to sip; in def. 2, short for earlier nipperkin vessel holding half-pint or less


noun, adjective Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.
  1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Japanese person.

Origin of Nip

First recorded in 1942; short for Nipponese

Usage note

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

Examples from the Web for nips

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

British Dictionary definitions for nips


  1. slang a derogatory word for a Japanese

Word Origin

C20: short for Nipponese


verb nips, nipping or nipped (mainly tr)
  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. (when intr, 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 coldthe 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. (intr; foll by along, up, out, etc) British informal to hurry; dart
  9. slang, mainly US and Canadian to snatch
  1. the act of nipping; a pinch, snip, etc
    1. a frosty or chilly quality
    2. severe frost or coldthe first nip of winter
  2. a small piece or quantityhe went out for a nip of fresh air
  3. a sharp flavour or tang
  4. archaic a taunting remark
  5. nip and tuck
    1. mainly US and Canadianneck and neck
    2. informalplastic surgery performed for cosmetic reasons
  6. put the nips in Australian and NZ slang to exert pressure on someone, esp in order to extort money

Word Origin

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


  1. a small drink of spirits; dram
  2. mainly British a measure of spirits usually equal to one sixth of a gill
verb nips, nipping or nipped
  1. to drink (spirits), esp habitually in small amounts

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for nips










Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper