nipper /ˈnɪpə(ɹ)/noun 16verb 1forms 3 noun16 •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. — 1953 •(Australia) A child aged from 5 to 13 in the Australian surf life-saving clubs.It is the first day of training for a group of ten ‘little nippers’ (novice surf life-savers). An assortment of children expectantly hover in the clubhouse. — 2008 •(UK, informal) A child.Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? — 1949 •[usually plural] Any of various devices (as pincers) for nipping. •The claws of a crab or lobster. •One of a pair of automatically locking handcuffs. •(old-fashioned) A machine used by a ticket inspector to stamp passengers' tickets.The railway ticket nipper has the identification number of the conductor on it […] — 1908 •(Canada, slang) A mosquito. •(historical) A boy working as a navvies' assistant. •(historical) One of the gloves or mittens worn by fishermen to protect their hands from cold and abrasion.Suddenly the line flashed through his hand, stinging even through the "nippers," the woolen circlets supposed to protect it. — 1897 •A fish, the cunner. •A young bluefish. •(no longer used) One of four foreteeth in a horse. •(slang, no longer used) A pickpocket; a young or petty thief. •(no longer used) A satirist.[…] ready backbiters, sore nippers, and spiteful reporters privily of good men. — 1569 •(no longer used) A European crab (Polybius henslowii). verb1 •To seize (two ropes) together. formsnippered · nippering · nippers
