nippy

See also: Nippy

English

Etymology

nip +‎ -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɪpi/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪpi

Adjective

nippy (comparative nippier, superlative nippiest)

1. (UK, informal) Fast; speedy.
   • c. 2000, Melanie Allen, Customer Relations Management, page 6:

     A Rolls Royce will not do if you need an economical, nippy car that is easy to park.

2. (informal) Of the weather, rather cold.

   Gosh, it's a bit nippy today: I'd better wear my gloves.

   • 2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:

     Raj took a deep breath, and reached out to give Armitage the gentlest little stroke. “It’s nippy out. Let’s take him inside.”

3. Inclined to nip; bitey.
   • 1995, Nancy Baer, Choosing a Dog: A Guide to Picking the Perfect Breed, page 161:

     Spoiling may create a pushy, nippy dog that lacks confidence.

4. (Scotland, informal) Annoying; irritating.
5. (Scotland) Sharp in taste.
6. (Scotland) Curt.
7. (Scotland) Parsimonious.

Derived terms

• nippily
• nippiness

 

Translations

rather cold (of weather)

• Bulgarian: остър (bg) (ostǎr), щипещ (bg) (štipešt)
• French: frisquet (fr)
• German: kühl (de), frisch (de), frostig (de)
• Korean: 쌀쌀하다 (ko) (ssalssalhada)
• Russian: моро́зный (ru) m (moróznyj), зябкий (ru) (zjabkij)
• Swedish: småkylig