What does "nipper" mean?
One who, or that which, nips.
Nipper
/ˈnɪpə(ɹ)/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who, or that which, nips.
- Grammar: nipper is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: child, kid, pincer, bairn.
- Useful contrasts: adult, calm, gentle.
- Usage evidence: Watt saw the little movements of the stuff, the little bulgings and crumplings, and the sudden indrawings, where it was nipped, between forefinger and thumb probably, for those are the nippers.
How to use "nipper"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "nipper" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "nipper" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "nipper" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "nipper" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "nipper" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "child" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "nipper", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who, or that which, nips.
"Watt saw the little movements of the stuff, the little bulgings and crumplings, and the sudden indrawings, where it was nipped, between forefinger and thumb probably, for those are the nippers."
- 2 a grasping structure on the limb of a crustacean or other arthropods wordnet
- 3 Any of various devices (as pincers) for nipping. plural-normally
- 4 a young person of either sex wordnet
- 5 A child. British, informal
"Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh?"
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 A child aged from 5 to 13 in the Australian surf life-saving clubs. Australia
"2003 Some Like It Hot: The Beach As a Cultural Dimension SLSA has become a multi-million dollar enterprise comprising 262 clubs located around the Australian coastline, with 100000 members, which included thousands of juniors or 'nippers', as they were more commonly known."
- 7 A boy working as a navvies' assistant. historical
- 8 A mosquito. Canada, Newfoundland, slang
- 9 One of four foreteeth in a horse. archaic
- 10 A satirist. obsolete
"[…] ready backbiters, sore nippers, and spiteful reporters privily of good men."
- 11 A pickpocket; a young or petty thief. obsolete, slang
- 12 A fish, the cunner.
- 13 A European crab (Polybius henslowii). archaic
- 14 The claws of a crab or lobster.
- 15 A young bluefish.
- 16 A machine used by a ticket inspector to stamp passengers' tickets. dated
"The railway ticket nipper has the identification number of the conductor on it […]"
- 17 One of a pair of automatically locking handcuffs.
- 18 One of the gloves or mittens worn by fishermen to protect their hands from cold and abrasion. historical
"Suddenly the line flashed through his hand, stinging even through the "nippers," the woolen circlets supposed to protect it."
Verb
- 1 To seize (two ropes) together. transitive
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"Watt saw the little movements of the stuff, the little bulgings and crumplings, and the sudden indrawings, where it was nipped, between forefinger and thumb probably, for those are the nippers."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "nipper"?
Common synonyms include: child, kid, pincer, bairn, biter, bud.
How do you use "nipper" in a sentence?
Watt saw the little movements of the stuff, the little bulgings and crumplings, and the sudden indrawings, where it was nipped, between forefinger and thumb probably, for those are the nippers.
How do you pronounce "nipper"?
Pronounced /ˈnɪpə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
From nip + -er.