nippers
|nip/pers|
🇺🇸
/ˈnɪpərz/
🇬🇧
/ˈnɪpəz/
(nipper)
something that nips (pinches or cuts)
Etymology
'nipper' originates from English, formed from the verb 'nip' (Middle English 'nippen') with the agent suffix '-er' meaning 'one who nips'.
'nipper' developed from the Middle English verb 'nippen' (to pinch or bite) into the agent noun 'nipper' and later came to be used for small tools that nip or cut; the plural form became 'nippers'.
Initially, it meant 'one who nips or pinches'; over time it also came to denote a small tool used for pinching/cutting and, informally, small children.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'nipper': small pincers or pliers used for cutting or pinching (e.g., wire nippers).
He used nippers to cut the wire.
Synonyms
Noun 2
informal (chiefly British) plural: young children; kids.
The nippers were playing on the beach.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 3
proper noun / program name (regional, e.g., Australia): participants in a youth surf lifesaving training program called 'Nippers'.
She signed her son up for Nippers at the local surf club.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/31 04:23