Nip \Nip\, n.

1. A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching; as, in the northern seas, the nip of masses of ice.

2. A pinch with the nails or teeth.

3. A small cut, or a cutting off the end.

4. A blast; a killing of the ends of plants by frost.

5. A biting sarcasm; a taunt. --Latimer.

6. (Naut.) A short turn in a rope.

Nip and tuck, a phrase signifying equality in a contest. [Low, U.S.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Nip \Nip\, n. [LG. & D. nippen to sip; akin to Dan. nippe, G. nippen.]

A sip or small draught; esp., a draught of intoxicating liquor; a dram.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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.

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.

2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.

The small shoots . . . must be nipped off. --Mortimer.

3. Hence: To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.

4. To vex or pain, as by nipping; hence, to taunt.

And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip. --Spenser.

To nip in the bud, to cut off at the verycommencement of growth; to kill in the incipient stage.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)