GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Nip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nipped (?), less properly Nipt; p. pr. & vb. n. Nipping (?).] [OE. nipen; cf. D. niipen to pinch, also knippen to nip, clip, pinch, snap, knijpen to pinch, LG. knipen, G. kneipen, kneifen, to pinch, cut off, nip, Lith. knebti.]
   1. To catch and inclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.
   
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   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.
   
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   2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.
   
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   The small shoots . . . must be nipped off. Mortimer.
   
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   3. Hence: To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
   
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   4. To vex or pain, as by nipping; hence, to taunt.
   
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   And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip. Spenser.
   
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   To nip in the bud, to cut off at the very commencement of growth; to kill in the incipient stage.
   
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2.       
   Nipping (?), a. Biting; pinching; painful; destructive; as, “a nipping frost; a nipping wind.”
   
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