Snip
/snɪp/noun
To cut something quickly with a short, sharp motion, or a small cut made in that way.
Did you know?English snip is an imitative word tied to quick cutting, and its close cousin snap shares the same sharp, abrupt feel of something breaking or biting shut.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
snippen
“to cut off with a quick, sharp motion”
Middle Dutch
NL
snippen
“to snip, cut short”
Middle Low German
MLG
snippen
“to cut or clip sharply”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*snipp-
“an expressive base imitating a quick sharp cut or nip”
Modern English
English
snip
“to cut with a short, quick stroke; a small cut or piece cut off”
Explore more surprising origins