▪ I. † nipe, n. Obs. rare—1.
[f. nipe v.2]
A nip.
| 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 39/2 With our cutting pinsers, we may with one nipe clippe it of. |
▪ II. † nipe, v.1 Obs.
[OE. hnipian, related to ON. hnipna, hn{iacu}pa.]
intr. To bow down, bend, droop; to descend, get low.
| c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxxiv. 234 Ða wearð Cain swiðe ierre, & hnipode ofdune. a 1000 Boeth. Metr. xxxi. 13 Bið ðeah wuhta ᵹehwylc onhniᵹen to hrusan, hnipað ofdune. a 1100 in Napier O.E. Glosses i. 1279 Curva, hnipendre, ᵹebiᵹedre. c 1160 Hatton Gosp. Matt. xxv. 5 Þa nipeden hyo ealle & slepen. c 1205 Lay. 31734 Þa hit wes uppen non, Þa sunne gon to nipen. |
▪ III. † nipe, v.2 Obs. rare.
In 5–6 nype.
[Corresponds to MDu. and MLG. nīpen (Du. nijpen, from which quots. 1481 and 1597 are directly taken). Cf. nip v.1]
trans. To nip.
| c 1430 Lydg. Chorle & Birde (Roxb.) 9 That smale birdes can nype by the hede. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 357/1 Nypyn, premo, stringo. 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 15 Bruyn the bere..helde fast his heed and nyped both his fore feet. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 20 b/1 The Chirurgiane must nype in the length of all the skinne and the fleshy pannickle. |
Hence † ˈniper, one who nips; † ˈniping vbl. n.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 357/1 Nypare, compressor, trusor. Ibid., Nypynge, compressio. 1546 Bale Eng. Votaries i. (1550) 75 b, Callynge them..perjures, nypers, serpentes, deuourers, rauenours. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 22 b/2 Avoydinge the nipinge of the little tonges. 1647 Hexham i, A Niper, een nyper. |