nipper C2 Topic:People & Society US /ˈnɪp.ɚ/ UK /ˈnɪp.ə/ See IPA manual Freq #32816 Meanings 1 noun informal, chiefly British: a young child He had worked on the farm ever since he was a nipper. 2 noun a claw or pincer of a crab, lobster, or similar animal The crab closed one nipper around the bait. 3 noun a tool or device used for gripping, pinching, or cutting The mechanic reached for a nipper to cut the wire. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · informal, chiefly british:... childyoungster 2 noun · a claw or pincer of a crab,... clawpincer 3 noun · a tool or device used for... pincerscutters Word family Derived forms nose-nipper Related forms nippincers Etymology Formed from nip + -er, literally something that nips. It first named gripping claws and tools; the informal child sense treats a small, lively youngster as a little nipper. Topics People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # nipper **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈnɪp.ɚ/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈnɪp.ə/ **Frequency rank:** 32816 ## Meanings 1. informal, chiefly British: a young child 2. a claw or pincer of a crab, lobster, or similar animal 3. a tool or device used for gripping, pinching, or cutting ## Examples - He had worked on the farm ever since he was a nipper. - The crab closed one nipper around the bait. - The mechanic reached for a nipper to cut the wire. ## Synonyms - child - youngster - claw - pincer ## Derived Forms - nose-nipper ## Related Forms - nip - pincers ## Etymology Formed from nip + -er, literally something that nips. It first named gripping claws and tools; the informal child sense treats a small, lively youngster as a little nipper. ## Topics - People & Society - Word Formation & Derivatives - Register & Style markdown