nip

To catch and enclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.

May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress.

To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.

The small shoots ... must be nipt off.

To benumb [e.g., cheeks, fingers, nose] by severe cold.

To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.

To annoy, as by nipping.

And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip.

A playful bite.

The puppy gave his owner’s finger a nip.

A pinch with the nails or teeth.

Briskly cold weather.

There is a nip in the air. It is nippy outside.

The day had only just broken, and there was a nip in the air; but the sky was cloudless, and the sun was shining yellow.

A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching

the nip of masses of ice

A small cut, or a cutting off the end.

A small amount of food or drink, (particularly) a small amount of liquor.

I’ll just take a nip of that cake.

He had a nip of whiskey.