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 very commencement of growth; to kill in the incipient stage.