Clip \Clip\ (kl[i^]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clipped (kl[i^]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. Clipping.]

[OE. cluppen, clippen, to embrace, AS. clyran to embrace, clasp; cf. OHG. kluft tongs, shears, Icel, kl[=y]pa to pinch, squeeze, also OE. clippen to cut, shear, Dan. klippe to clip, cut, SW. & Icel. klippa.]

1. To embrace, hence; to encompass.

O . . . that Neptune's arms, who clippeth thee about, Would bear thee from the knowledge of thyself. --Shak.

2. To cut off; as with shears or scissors; as, to clip the hair; to clip coin.

Sentenced to have his ears clipped. --Macaulay.

3. To curtail; to cut short.

All my reports go with the modest truth; No more nor clipped, but so. --Shak.

In London they clip their words after one manner about the court, another in the city, and a third in the suburbs. --Swift.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Clipping \Clip"ping\, n.

1. The act of embracing. [Obs.]

2. The act of cutting off, curtailing, or diminishing; the practice of clipping the edges of coins.

clipping by Englishmen is robbing the honest man who receives clipped money. --Locke.

3. That which is clipped off or out of something; a piece separated by clipping; as, newspaper clippings.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)