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Added 9 October 2026

nip

/nɪp/ noun

In Latin: vellicō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about nip at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A small drink of liquor.
he poured a shot of whiskey
(offensive slang) offensive term for a person of Japanese descent.
The taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth.

verb

Squeeze tightly between the fingers.
He pinched her behind
Give a small sharp bite to.
The Queen's corgis always nip at her staff's ankles
Sever or remove by pinching or snipping.
nip off the flowers

Origin

From late Middle English nippen, probably of Low German or Dutch origin, probably a byform of earlier *knippen (suggested by the derivative Middle English knippette (“pincers”)), from Middle Low German knîpen, from Old Saxon *knīpan, from Proto-West Germanic *knīpan, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *knīpaną (“to pinch”). Related to Dutch nijpen, knijpen (“to pinch”), Danish nive (“pinch”); Swedish nypa (“pinch”); Low German knipen; German kneipen and kneifen (“to pinch, cut off, nip”), Old Norse hnippa (“to prod, poke”); Lithuanian knebti.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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