from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Nip \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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