Nip
/nɪp/noun
To pinch or bite sharply; also, a small quantity of liquor.
Did you know?The verb likely developed from a Germanic base meaning “to pinch or press sharply,” and its quick, cutting sound helped it survive in forms tied to both biting and cold weather.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hnippian
“to nip, pinch, or press sharply”
Middle English
ME
nippen
“to pinch, bite, or seize sharply”
Early Modern English
English
nip
“to pinch, bite, or check suddenly”
18th Century
English
nip
“a small drink of spirits”
Modern English
English
nip
“to pinch sharply; a sharp bite or small quantity of liquor”