nip n.1
1. a cutpurse.
Second Part of Conny-Catching in Grosart (1881–3) X 97: For say the Nips, I decline to vse my occupation against any friend, or to drawe a purse from him that I am familiarly acquainted with. | ||
Disputation Betweene a Hee and a Shee Conny-Catcher (1923) 5: They haue their Ruffians to rifle, when they cannot fetch ouer with other cunning, their crosbiters attending vpon them, their foysts, their bufts, their nippes, and such like. | ||
Belman of London (3rd) H1: He that cuts the Purse is called the Nip. | ||
Roaring Girle V i: One of them is a nip. | ||
Dekker his Dreame 30: High-way-standers, Foists, Nips, and Iylts. | ||
Works (1869) III 8: Liues like a Gentleman by slight of hand, / Can play the Foist, the Nip, the Stale, the Stand, / The Snap, the Curb, the Crossbite, Warpe and Lift, / Decoy, prig, Cheat (all for a hanging shift). | ‘A Brood of Cormorants’ in||
Age for Apes 233: For while these to the Ballad-monger flocked, My nimble Nipps div’d deep into their pocket. |
2. (UK Und., also nipps) in pl., shears used to clip coins.
Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Nipps, c. the Shears with which Money was won’t to be Clipt. | ||
New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698]. | ||
, , , | Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698]. | |
, , | Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Nipps, the shears used in clipping money. | |
Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785]. | ||
Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue [as cit. 1785]. |
3. a cardsharp, a cheat.
Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Nip, a Cheat. | ||
New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698]. | ||
, , , | Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698]. | |
, , | Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue. | |
New Dict. Cant (1795). | ||
Dict. Sl. and Cant. | ||
Lex. Balatronicum. | ||
Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue. | ||
Modern Flash Dict. | ||
Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open. |
4. (UK Und.) in pl., a thief’s device for unlocking locked doors.
Crooks of the Und. 138: His ‘open sesame’ is a small tool called a pair of nips. |
5. US a prison sentence.
Good Humor 179: Who’ talkin’ of hangin’? What I said is he ought to get a nip [...] go up the river. | ‘Justice in a Quandary’ in
6. (Aus.) a juvenile thief.
Sport (Adelaide) 18 Nov. 8/4: Nearly all the gardens round Noth Norwood have been visited by these nips [i.e. early teenage thieves]. |
In phrases
(UK und.) demanding protection money.
Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 1: At the nip: Deamnding money from bookmakers, publicans, etc. |
(US und.) to arrest.
Pensacola News Jrnl (FL) 27 Aug. 4/4: [cartoon caption] I thought you was a Fed agent an’ was waitin’ to put th’ nip on us. |