Dictionary entry

Clip

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Clip (klĭp), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Clipped (klĭpt); p. pr. & vb. n.Clipping.] [OE. cluppen, clippen, to embrace, AS. clyran to embrace, clasp; cf. OHG. kluft tongs, shears, Icel, klȳpa 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.