Etymology
1. "to pinch sharply, to bite," 1393, related to M.L.G.
nipen "to nip," Du.
nijpen, but the exact evolution of the stem is obscure. The noun is attested from 1551.
Nipper "small boy" (1859) was originally (1535) a pickpocket who "pinched" other people's property. To
nip (something) in the bud in the fig. sense is first recorded 1606.
Nip and tuck "a close thing" is recorded from 1832, perhaps from sailing or tailoring.
Nippy in ref. to a "biting" chill in the air is first recorded 1898.
2. From late Middle English nippen, probably of Low German or Dutch origin, probably a byform of earlier *knippen (suggested by the derivative Middle English knippette (“pincers”)), from Middle Low German knîpen, from Old Saxon *knīpan, from Proto-West Germanic *knīpan, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *knīpaną (“to pinch”).
3. Related to Dutch nijpen, knijpen (“to pinch”), Danish nive (“pinch”); Swedish nypa (“pinch”); Low German knipen; German kneipen and kneifen (“to pinch, cut off, nip”), Old Norse hnippa (“to prod, poke”); Lithuanian knebti. See: Proto-Germanic '
*knīpaną', Dutch '
nijpen', Danish '
nive', Swedish '
nypa', Low Saxon 'knipen', German, old spelling '
kneipen'.